THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY,  | 
Princeton,  N.  J.  4 


BX 


5199    .F4  L5  1833 


The  life  of  Nicholas  Ferrar 
M.A.   and  Fellow  of  Clare 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2015 


https://archive.org/details/lifeofnicholasfeOOunse 


THE  LIFE 


OF 


0^ 

NICHOLAS  FERRAR,  M.A. 


AND  FELLOW  OF  CLARE-HALL,  CAMBRIDGE. 


DESIGNED  PARTICULARLY  FOR  YOUTH. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
PUBLISHED  BY  FRENCH  &  PERKINS. 
BOSTOK: 
PERKINS  &  MARVIN. 


1833. 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the 
year  1833,  by  French  &  Perkins,  in  the  Clerk's 
Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Eastern  District  of 
Pennsylvania. 


PREFACE. 


It  is  believed  that  the  particulars  contained  in  this  lit- 
tle volume  have  never  before  been  published  in  America, 
and  are  entirely  out  of  fjrint  in  Great  Britain  *  except  in 
Dr.  Wordsworth's  voluminous  "  Ecclesiastical  Biography." 
The  book  is  rather  a  sketch,  or  a  collection  of  anecdotes, 
than  a  regular  biography.  Its  value  would  be  much 
greater,  if  it  w'ere  possible  to  add  the  exact  dates  of  the 
events  which  it  details.  The  only  authority,  however, 
on  which  we  have  relied,  is  the  Memoir  of  Ferrar,  by 
Bishop  Turner,  printed  in  1761 ;  and  this  has  the  same 
defect  as  to  date. 

The  w'riter  is  of  a  different  church  from  that  of  which 
the  subject  of  this  memoir  was  a  conscientious  member. 
Yet  he  loves  to  recognise  true  religion  in  every  commu- 
nion,  and  hopes  that  no  reader  will  find  reason  to  charge 
him  with  sectarism  in  any  of  the  following  pages.  It  is 
useful  to  look  at  Christianity  under  every  variety  of  cir- 
cumstances, and  the  aspect  in  which  it  here  presents  itself 
will  certainly  be  new  to  most.  The  character  of  Ferrar 
was  marked  by  intelligence,  enterprise,  firmness,  decision, 
mildness,  humility,  self-denial,  devotion,  and  love.  His 
youth  was  amiable  and  full  of  promise.  His  early  man- 
hood was  spent  in  adventures  which  are  almost  romantic. 
His  public  life,  though  short,  was  brilliant  His  years 
of  maturity  and  decline  were  devoted  to  retired  acts  of 
piety.  His  death  Avas  like  the  serene  going  down  of 
a  summer's  sun.  And  whatever  judgment  may  be  form- 
ed of  the  facts  here  recorded,  or  of  the  manner  in  which 
the  compilation  has  been  made,  there  is  reason  to  believe 
that  the  work  will  be  read  with  more  than  ordinary  enter- 
tainment, if  not  instruction.  May  the  giver  of  every  good 
and  perfect  gift  make  this  labour  conducive  to  the  instruc- 
tion of  youth,  and  the  manifestation  of  His  glory ! 

*  Since  this  work  has  been  in  the  hands  of  the  printer,  the 
compiler  has  met  with  an  English  reprint  of  Bishop  Turner's 
Sketch,  somewhat  improved  ;  Bristol,  1829.  From  this  he  has 
made  a  few  additions. 

3 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I.  Page 

Birth  and   Education  of  Nicholas  Ferrar — He  goes 
abroad  to  School — Is  entered  at  the  University    -   -  5 

CHAPTER  n. 
Mr.  Ferrar  sets  out  on  his  Travels — Visits  Holland — 
Germany — Attends  the  University  at  Leipsick — Re- 
sides at  Venice — Padua — Rome  14 

CHAPTER  HI. 
Mr.  Ferrar  is  sick  in  France — Escapes  from  a  Pirate — 
Adventures  in  Spain — Sails  for  London  -----  26 

CHAPTER  IV. 
Mr.  Ferrar  returns  home — Engages  in  the  Virginia  Com- 
pany— Is  elected  to  Parliament — Family  Difficulties 
—Plague  37 


CHAPTER  V. 
The  Family  of  Ferrars  retire  into  the  Country   -   -   -  47 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Family  Establishment  at  Little-Gidding — Rules — Man- 
ner of  spending  the  Lord's-day — Sunday-school  -   -  53 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Daily  Employments  and  Devotions  at  Little-Gidding — 


Inscription — Vigils,  or  Watch-nights  68 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
Visiters — Domestic  Habits — Message  from  the  Queen — 
Scripture  Harmonies  78 

CHAPTER  IX. 
Self-denial  of  Mr.  Ferrar — Characteristic  Anecdotes   -  90 

CHAPTER  X. 
Last  Illness  and  happy  Death  99 


THE  LIFE 

OF 

NICHOLAS  FERRAR. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Birth  and  Education  of  Nicholas  Ferrar — He  goes 
abroad  to  School — Is  entered  at  the  University. 

The  life  of  a  true  Christian  is  always  in- 
structive, even  if  there  are  some  things  in  it 
which  are  liable  to  objection.  The  errors  as 
well  as  the  excellencies  of  good  men  may 
properly  be  described ;  and  while  the  reader 
discerns  between  the  one  and  the  other,  he 
should  learn  to  avoid  what  is  extravagant  or 
improper,  and  to  copy  after  what  is  laudable. 
If  some  things  in  the  following  history  should 
seem  uncommon,  it  must  be  remembered  that 
the  subject  of  it  lived  at  a  time  when  the 
principles  of  the  Reformation  were  not  yet 
fully  established.  In  most  particulars,  he  de- 
serves to  be  imitated.  There  are  a  few  in 
a2  5 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I.  Page 
Birth  and   Education  of  Nicholas  Ferrar — He  goes 
abroad  to  School — Is  entered  at  the  University    -   -  5 

CHAPTER  n. 
Mr.  Ferrar  sets  out  on  his  Travels — Visits  Holland — 
Germany — Attends  the  University  at  Leipsick — Re- 
sides at  Venice — Padua — Rome  14 

CHAPTER  in. 
Mr.  Ferrar  is  sick  in  France — Escapes  from  a  Pirate — 
Adventures  in  Spain — Sails  for  London  -----  26 

CHAPTER  IV. 
Mr.  Ferrar  returns  home — Engages  in  the  Virginia  Com- 
pany— Is  elected  to  Parliament — Family  Difficulties 
—Plague  37 

CHAPTER  V. 
The  Family  of  Ferrars  retire  into  the  Country   -   -   -  47 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Family  Establishment  at  Little-Gidding — Rules — Man- 
ner of  spending  the  Lord's-day — Sunday-school  -   -  53 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Daily  Employments  and  Devotions  at  Little-Gidding — 
Inscription — Vigils,  or  Watch-nights  68 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
Visiters — Domestic  Habits — Message  from  the  Queen — 
Scripture  Harmonies  78 

CHAPTER  IX. 
Self-denial  of  Mr.  Ferrar — Characteristic  Anecdotes   -  90 

CHAPTER  X. 

Last  Illness  and  happy  Death  99 

4 


THE  LIFE 

OF 

NICHOLAS  FERRAR. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Birth  and  Education  of  Nicholas  Ferrar — He  goes 
abroad  to  School — Is  entered  at  the  University. 

The  life  of  a  true  Christian  is  always  in- 
structive, even  if  there  are  some  things  in  it 
which  are  liable  to  objection.  The  errors  as 
well  as  the  excellencies  of  good  men  may 
properly  be  described ;  and  while  the  reader 
discerns  between  the  one  and  the  other,  he 
should  learn  to  avoid  what  is  extravagant  or 
improper,  and  to  copy  after  what  is  laudable. 
If  some  things  in  the  following  history  should 
seem  uncommon,  it  must  be  remembered  that 
the  subject  of  it  lived  at  a  time  when  the 
principles  of  the  Reformation  were  not  yet 
fully  established.  In  most  particulars,  he  de- 
serves to  be  imitated.  There  are  a  few  in 
a2  5 


6 


THE  LIFE  OF 


which  we  shall  all  agree  that  he  went  to  ex- 
tremes. No  one  will  doubt  that  he  was  a 
man  of  eminent  piety,  high  devotion,  un- 
wearied diligence,  and  enlarged  charity. 

Nicholas  Ferrar  was  born  in  London,  on 
the  first  day  of  February,  1,591.  He  was  the 
third  son  of  Mr.  Nicholas  Ferrar,  a  rich  East 
India  merchant.  His  parents  were  persons 
who  feared  God  themselves,  and  who  en- 
deavoured from  the  earliest  years  to  give  their 
son  a  truly  Christian  education.  This  they 
justly  thought  more  important  than  earthly 
wealth ;  and  those  parents  are  wise,  who  use 
all  means  to  procure  for  their  children  this 
heavenly  riches.  Nicholas  was  a  lovely  child, 
but  was  from  his  infancy  subject  to  a  variety 
of  complaints,  so  that  he  was  an  early  sufferer. 
When  he  was  only  six  years  old,  he  showed 
a  great  desire  for  knowledge,  and  was  dili- 
gent in  trying  to  learn  every  thing  valuable. 
Such  boys  will  never  long  remain  ignorant, 
for  where  there  is  a  real  thirst  for  information, 
it  will  always  be  gratified. 

The  delightful  histories  of  the  Bible  drew 
his  attention.  The  account  given  in  Scripture 
of  God's  people  is  the  most  interesting  narra- 


NICHOLAS   FERRAR.  7 

live  which  has  ever  been  written,  and  so  young 
Nicholas  found  it.  In  the  course  of  two  or 
three  years  he  had  made  himself  acquainted 
with  the  greater  part  of  this,  and  committed 
to  memory  all  the  Psalms  of  David.  This 
may  appear  to  some  youthful  readers  a  won- 
derful labour.  In  childhood,  however,  the  task 
is  not  so  hard,  and  small  portions  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  learned  every  day,  will  soon 
amount  to  a  surprising  quantity.  It  would 
be  well,  if  every  child  were  accustomed  to 
learn,  without  book,  a  passage  of  the  Bible 
each  day  of  his  life.  While  his  litde  com- 
panions were  at  play,  Nicholas  would  be  bu- 
sily employed  in  reading.  He  learned  the 
history  of  his  own  country,  and  then  applied 
himself  to  Fox's  Book  of  Martyrs^  which 
gives  an  account  of  those  good  men  who  have 
been  put  to  death  for  the  sake  of  Christ.  It 
is  said,  that  he  often  forgot  his  meals  and  his 
sleep,  in  his  earnestness  to  go  on  with  his 
reading. 

When  he  was  between  seven  and  eight 
years  of  age,  he  was  sent  from  home  to  the 
school  of  a  Mr.  Brooks,  at  Newbury,  in 
Berkshire.    This  is  always  a  critical  time  in 


8 


THE  LIFE  OF 


the  life  of  a  boy.  Those  who  leave  their  fa- 
ther's house  are  exposed  to  peculiar  tempta- 
tions, and  are  often  led  astray.  Providence 
directed  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ferrar  to  a  pious  and 
faithful  teacher,  and  one  who  made  it  his  bu- 
siness to  promote  the  happiness  of  his  pupils. 
It  seems  likely  that  Nicholas  received  his  first 
deep  impressions  of  religion  at  this  school. 
Mr.  Brooks  was  a  strict  but  affectionate  man. 
He  conducted  all  the  affairs  of  his  little  semi- 
nary with  the  greatest  discipline  and  regular- 
ity. There  was  a  time  for  every  thing,  and  a 
place  for  every  thing,  and  every  thing  was  re- 
quired to  be  precisely  in  its  time  and  place. 
The  teacher  had  once  been  a  minister  in  Lon- 
don, but  had  retired  into  the  country  to  take 
charge  of  youth.  ,  .'  c  " 

In  this  school,  all  the  children  were  care- 
fully instructed  in  the  Scriptures,  and  the  ca- 
techism of  the  Chur6h  to  which  they  belong- 
ed. They  were  made  to  learn  by  heart  the 
whole  of  the  book  of  Psalms,  the  four  Gos- 
pels, and  the  Epistles.  Nicholas  had  a  fine 
memory,  and  acquired  this  knowledge  with 
more  ease  than  his  companions.  It  proved  a 
great  blessing  to  him  in  after-life.  For  he  tra- 


NICHOLAS   FERRAR.  9 

veiled,  and  was  dangerously  ill,  in  countries 
where  it  was  hazardous  to  be  seen  with  a 
copy  of  the  Scriptures.  A  Bible  was  thought, 
by  these  superstitious  people,  a  sure  mark  of 
heresy.  It  was  a  great  consolation  to  him, 
therefore,  to  have  its  most  precious  parts  trea- 
sured up  in  his  mind.  Nicholas  attended  to 
his  various  tasks  with  the  greatest  cheerful- 
ness and  diligence.  His  proficiency  was, 
therefore,  very  great.  He  became  familiar 
with  every  branch  of  useful  knowledge  com- 
monly taught  in  the  schools.  Besides  this, 
he  attended  to  some  things  which  were  not 
usual.  He  made  himself  master  of  short- 
hand, as  it  was  then  taught,  and  learned  the 
principles  of  music,  so  as  to  sing  by  note. 
This  is  a  most  valuable  attainment  in  one  who 
wishes  to  sing  the  praises  of  God;  and  if  it 
is  not  made  in  early  life,  it  is  generally  ne- 
glected for  ever. 

There  is  always  some  danger  lest  a  very 
quick  and  intelligent  boy  should  be  puffed  up 
with  vanity.  The  teachers  of  this  youth  were 
so  proud  of  him  as  to  say,  that  he  could  learn 
what  he  pleased.  He  seemed  to  understand 
every  subject,  and  to  master  every  difficulty. 


10 


THE   LIFE  OF 


Yet  he  had  one  mark  of  piety  at  that  early- 
age.  He  was  humble  and  modest,  and  disliked 
to  hear  himself  commended.  Sometimes  he 
would  leave  the  table,  weeping,  when  he  was 
praised,  and  this  sweet  temper  never  forsook 
him. 

At  the  age  of  thirteen,  he  was  taken  to  the 
university  of  Cambridge.  His  preceptor  de- 
clared, that,  notwithstanding  his  youth,  he 
was  fully  ripe  for  entering  a  college,  and  that 
any  delay  would  be  a  mere  loss  of  time.  The 
reader  will  understand  that  each  of  the  Eng- 
lish universities  is  made  up  of  a  number  of 
colleges,  which  have  separate  buildings,  libra- 
ries, and  masters.  Nicholas  Ferrar  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  college  which  is  called  Clare- 
hall.  This  was  a  new  scene,  in  which  he 
needed  special  direction  and  care  of  divine 
grace.  Colleges  have  often  been  found  schools 
of  vice  to  the  youth  who  frequent  them,  and 
the  best  institutions  are  not  without  their  dan- 
gers. There  were,  at  this  time,  a  number  of 
very  eminent  instructers  attached  to  Clare- 
hall,  and  one  of  these.  Dr.  Austin  Lindsell, 
who  was  afterwards  bishop  of  Peterborough, 
took  young  Ferrar  under  his  special  tuition. 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR. 


11 


His  genius  and  diligence,  and  especially  his 
vast  memory,  rendered  him  very  soon  distin- 
guished. In  the  various  competitions  which 
took  place  in  repeating  by  rote,  or  arguing,  or 
declaiming,  he  was  always  ready,  always  mo- 
dest and  obedient,  and  almost  always  success- 
ful. After  the  usual  course,  he  took  the  first 
degree,  namely  that  of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  in 
1610.  It  was  then  proposed  to  make  him  a 
fellow.  Here  it  may  be  remarked  that  fellow- 
ships are  peculiar  to  the  British  universities. 
A  fellow  is  one  who  has  passed  through  the 
regular  course,  and  who,  on  account  of  his 
eminent  scholarship,  is  supported  gratuitously 
at  the  university.  Here  he  may  abide  all  his 
life,  in  the  pursuit  of  his  studies,  if  he  is  will- 
ing to  remain  unmarried.  Ferrar  was  unani- 
mously elected  to  a  fellowship.  In  this  situ- 
ation he  was  very  exemplary.  No  one  was 
more  regular  or  studious.  He  always  arose 
upon  the  ringing  of  the  chapel  bell  at  five  in 
the  morning.  It  used  to  be  said  that  his  cham- 
ber might  be  known  by  the  last  candle  extin- 
guished at  night,  and  the  first  lighted  in  the 
morning.  At  the  same  time  his  piety  was  re- 
marked by  all  who  kn^w  him.    His  devotion 


12 


THE   LIFE  OF 


was  warm  and  elevated,  and  his  prudence  and 
judgment  preserved  him  from  excess.  He 
was  universally  respected  and  beloved,  at  an 
age  when  young  men  are  commonly  impatient 
of  restraint  and  prone  to  folly. 

The  early  weakness  of  his  constitution  had 
now  been  increased  by  his  inordinate  appli- 
cation to  study,  so  that  there  were  few,  of 
either  sex,  who  were  more  frail  and  sickly. 
The  air  of  Cambridge  proved  unfavourable 
to  his  health,  and  he  was  forced  to  indulge  in 
frequent  excursions.  The  house  of  his  sister, 
Mrs.  Collet,  who  resided  at  Bourne,  five  miles 
from  the  university,  was  his  favourite  resort. 
She  was  a  lady  of  excellent  understanding,  of 
much  reading,  and  of  solid  piety.  Here,  in 
the  intervals  of  study,  he  tried  to  be  useful, 
by  giving  religious  instruction  and  exhorta- 
tion to  his  nephews  and  nieces,  to  whom  he 
was  like  a  father  as  long  as  he  lived.  At  the 
advice  of  a  physician,  he  endeavoured  to  re- 
new his  health  by  abstinence  ;  but  the  lowest 
diet  failed  to  drive  away  his  diseases,  and  he 
was  at  length  persuaded  that  nothing  but  a 
change  of  climate  was  likely  to  prolong  his 
days.  His  parents  wegre  reluctant  to  part  with 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR. 


13 


him ;  his  fellow  collegians  grieved  over  his 
departure  ;  yet,  with  the  hope  of  his  recovery, 
they  yielded  to  his  determination.  They  did 
not  fear  that  he  would  be  contaminated  by  the 
vices,  or  betrayed  by  the  superstitions,  of  fo- 
reign countries.  His  pious  principles  were 
well  established,  and  he  was  a  zealous  Pro- 
testant, from  enlightened  conviction  of  the 
truth. 

We  have  every  reason  to  think  that  he  was 
at  this  time  truly  pious ;  though,  as  is  often 
the  case,  there  was  no  point  of  time  at  which 
he  was  able  to  say  that  his  heart  was  renew- 
ed. He  probably  gave  way  at  one  period  to 
some  youthful  follies,  yet  it  is  but  just  to  say, 
that  the  only  evidence  of  this  is  his  fondness 
in  early  youth  for  plays,  romances,  and  other 
hurtful  books.  The  manner  in  which  he 
treated  these  works  in  after-life  shall  be 
more  fully  declared  in  its  proper  place. 


B 


14 


THE  LIFE  OF 


CHAPTER  II. 

Mr.  Ferrar  sets  out  on  his  Travels — Visits  Holland — 
Germany — Attends  the  University  at  Leipsick — Re- 
sides at  Venice — Padua — Rome. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  Frederick,  Elec- 
tor Palatine,  and  afterwards  king  of  Bohemia, 
married  the  lady  Elizabeth,  the  only  surviving 
daughter  of  James  I.  It  may  be  observed  here 
that  George  I.  was  the  grandson  of  this  Eliza- 
beth. A  party  was  formed,  of  noblemen  and 
others,  to  escort  the  bride  to  the  Continent, 
and  Mr.  Ferrar  was  advised  by  Dr.  Scott, 
master  of  Clare-hall,  to  avail  himself  of  this 
favourable  opportunity  for  beginning  his  tra- 
vels. Having,  therefore,  received  the  degree 
of  Master  of  Arts,  he  left  his  beloved  college, 
and  united  himself  with  this  company  of 
courtiers.  The  royal  fleet  laaded  them  safely 
at  Flushing,  in  Holland  ;  and  tlFie  short  voyage 
had  the  happy  effect  of  banishing  some  of  the 
disorders  under  which  he  had  been  pining. 

His  first  employment  in  Holland  was  to 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR. 


15 


make  himself  acquainted  with  the  Dutch  lan- 
guage, which  he  speedily  accomplished  so  far 
as  it  was  requisite  for  brdiuary  conversation. 
He  then  set  himself  diligently  to  learn  every 
thing  attainable  concerning  the  history  of  the 
cities  and  provinces  ;  the  nature  of  their  go- 
vernment ;  the  strength  of  their  fortifications, 
arsenals,  and  magazines  ;  their  trade  and  com- 
merce, banks  and  manufactories.  This  is  one 
of  the  principal  uses  of  foreign  travel,  and 
Holland  was  at  that  time  in  so  flourishing  a 
condition,  that  it  afforded  a  good  school  for 
these  branches  of  learning.  He  inquired  into 
every  particular  respecting  the  revenue,  the  ar- 
ray, the  navy,  the  shipping,  and  the  charitable 
establishments  of  the  country.  He  likewise 
visited  the  Reformed  churches,  and  compared 
their  doctrine  and  discipline  with  those  of  his 
native  land.  In  particular  he  endeavoured  to 
learn  the  wonderful  dealings  of  God's  provi- 
dence, in  the  punishment  of  sin,  and  the  pre- 
servation of  his  people,  as  displayed  in  the 
history  of  the  countries  through  which  he 
travelled. 

Mr.  Ferrar  attended  upon  the  Countess  Pa- 
latine at  Middleburg,  the  Hague,  and  Amster- 


10 


THE   LIFE  OF 


dam.  The  reception  which  she  everywhere 
met  with  Avas  splendid,  and  the  young  travel- 
ler was  much  flattered  and  caressed.  This 
was  dangerous  to  his  spiritual  interest,  but  he 
seems  to  have  escaped  the  snare.  He  was 
assured  that  if  he  accompanied  the  Countess 
home,  he  would  probably  be  made  her  secre- 
tary ;  but  he  replied  that  he  aimed  at  lower 
things.  When  he  perceived,  therefore,  that 
they  were  about  to  pass  out  of  Holland  into 
Germany,  he  begged  to  be  dismissed,  and  suf- 
fered them  to  proceed  without  him.  Upon 
coming  to  Hamburg,  he  frequented  the  compa- 
ny of  the  English  merchants  there,  by  whom 
he  was  well  entertained.  They  formed  high 
ideas  of  his  excellence  and  sobriety.  It  is  re- 
markable, at  that  age,  and  in  that  country,  that 
he  practised  a  total  abstinence  with  regard  to 
intoxicating  liquors.  No  persuasion  could  in- 
duce him  to  take  either  wine  or  strong  drink. 
He  did  not  yield  for  the  sake  of  politeness, 
as  so  many  young  men  unfortunately  do. 
When  they  found  they  could  not  tempt  him 
to  indulge  with  them,  they  acknowledged  that 
he  was  in  the  right  way,  though  they  pretend- 
ed it  was  a  path  in  which  they  could  not  walk 


NICHOLAS    FERRAR.  17 

themselves.  It  is  one  of  the  best  tokens  of 
future  prosperity  to  a  young  man,  when  he  en- 
tirely abstains  from  strong  drink.  He  is  thus 
freed  from  a  destructive  temptation,  and  saved 
from  the  gulf  of  drunkenness,  into  which 
many  an  unwary  youth  has  fallen.  And  the 
reader  may  be  assured,  that  if  he  indulges  in 
any  intoxicating  liquor,  he  is  in  imminent 
danger  as  to  both  body  and  soul. 

Passing  through  several  cities,  he  arrived  at 
Leipsick,  in  Saxony,  where  there  is  a  cele- 
brated university.  Here  he  determined  to  re- 
main some  time,  for  the  purpose  of  learning 
such  things  as  were  there  taught  in  a  superior 
manner.  Among  other  things  he  acquired  the 
art  of  mnemonics,  or  artificial  memory.  The 
citizens  of  Leipsick  were  celebrated  then,  as 
they  have  been  ever  since,  for  their  skill  in 
the  mechanic  arts.  This  singular  young  man 
had  so  insatiable  a  desire  for  all  useful  know- 
ledge, that  he  adopted  the  uncommon  plan  of 
serving  a  kind  of  apprenticeship,  for  a  week 
or  fortnight,  with  the  artificers  of  every  rare 
kind  of  work.  Painters,  dyers,  weavers,  and 
smiths  were  frequently  at  his  lodgings,  giving 
him  instruction  in  their  several  crafts.  Hence 
b2 


18 


THE  LIFE  OF 


he  acquired  a  great  fund  of  matter  for  conver- 
sation, for  he  could  talk  with  an  architect  in 
his  own  phrases,  and  with  seamen  in  their 
peculiar  dialect.  The  great  world  was  the 
book  which  he  now  read,  storing  up  abun- 
dance of  knowledge  to  be  turned  to  future 
use.  Hence  he  acquired  a  singular  ability  for 
interesting  conversation.  It  was  often  observ- 
ed that  he  excelled  in  familiar  discourse,  and, 
without  pedantry,  knew  how  to  make  every 
interview  profitable ;  drawing  illustrations  from 
the  most  striking  facts  of  sacred  and  civil 
history,  or  from  his  own  observations. 

The  literary  society  of  Leipsick  flocked 
around  him  to  such  a  degree,  that  he  was 
forced  to  seek  his  beloved  retirement  in  the 
adjacent  country.  Here  he  gave  his  time  to 
the  perusal  of  works  upon  German  history 
and  politics.  All  men  concluded  that  he  was 
preparing  himself  to  be  a  great  statesman,  or 
civil  leader  in  his  own  land.  The  news  of 
this  reached  his  father,  who  was  gratified  with 
the  hope,  and  wrote  to  him  that  he  might  em- 
ploy as  much  time  and  money  as  he  chose, 
but  entreated  him  to  spare  his  delicate  con- 
stitution. He  left  Leipsick,  therefore,  and  af- 


xVICHOLAS   FERRAR.  19 

ter  \isiting  some  of  the  smaller  states  of 
Germany,  and  tinding  that  the  pla^e  raged 
in  many  towns,  he  passed  through  Vienna  in- 
to Italy. 

When  Mr.  Ferrar  arrived  at  the  Venetian 
territor}-,  he  found  the  inhabitants  all  engaged 
in  keeping  the  forty  days'  fast  of  Lent,  in  the 
manner  usual  among  the  Roman  Catholics. 
He  did  not  choose  to  resist  the  rules  imposed 
upon  him,  especially  as  he  had  long  been  ac- 
customed to  rigid  abstinence.  The  solitude 
of  his  days  was  employed  in  copying  out  his 
notes,  and  methodizing  an  account  of  his 
travels.  In  the  morning  it  was  his  practice 
to  go  into  a  neighbouring  mountain,  which 
abounded  in  fragrant  herbs.  With  a  few 
books,  and  with  many  hours  of  prayer,  he 
made  the  time  delightful,  and  returned  again 
in  the  evening  to  a  frugal  meal  of  oil  and  fish. 
We  are  assured  that  he  never  omitted  his  re- 
gular seasons  of  devotion  on  account  of  the 
interruptions  of  travelling.  Even  at  midnight 
he  usually  rose  to  pray.  He  needed  few  books, 
having  so  much  of  the  Scriptures  in  his  me- 
mory, and  *'  when  he  had  not  time  and  place 


20 


THE  LIFE  OF 


to  kneel,  he  made  the  lowest  prostration  of 
his  spirit." 

On  a  certain  occasion  he  was  riding  through 
a  narrow  and  dangerous  passage  of  the  Italian 
Alps,  some  paces  behind  his  guide,  when  an 
ass  came  suddenly  between  them,  laden  with 
a  huge  piece  of  timber,  which  filled  the  wholp 
way.  The  passage  was  narrow,  with  a  pre- 
cipice on  the  one  side,  and  a  perpendicular 
wall  on  the  other.  When  the  guide  looked 
round,  he  saw  the  peril,  and  cried  out  "  O 
Lord !  the  man  is  lost,  if  he  had  a  hundred 
lives !"  Mr.  Ferrar,  hearing  the  guide's 
voice,  was  surprised,  and,  looking  up,  saw 
the  ass  coming  down  hastily  upon  him.  He 
perceived  that  the  wood  must  precipitate  him 
and  his  mule  into  the  awful  depth  below.  In 
this  emergency  he  fervently  called  upon  God 
to  preserve  him,*and  by  his  omnipotent  mercy 
to  find  some  means  of  delivering  him.  Just 
as  the  animal  approached,  she  tripped,  and 
the  piece  of  timber  being  moved,  swayed 
away  from  its  former  position.  He  stopped 
his  mule,  the  ass  passed  quietly  by,  and  he 
received  only  a  gentle  brush  on  one  side  from 
the  log.    He  instantly  fell  prostrate  upon  the 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR. 


21 


ground,  and  made  humble  acknowledgment  to 
Almighty  God  for  his  preservation.  The 
guide,  and  the  owner  of  the  ass,  who  had  come 
up  by  this  time,  and  told  how  she  broke  away 
as  they  were  loading  her,  stood  crossing 
themselves,  and  crying  miracolo  !  a  miracle  ! 

Almost  every  individual  can  call  to  mind 
remarkable  instances  of  God's  preserving  care, 
but  it  is  not  every  one  who  thankfully  ac- 
knowledges the  favour  of  Providence  ;  and 
few,  like  Mr.  Ferrar,  record  and  remember 
their  deliverances. 

At  Padua,  where  we  next  find  him,  he  ap- 
plied himself,  with  great  enthusiasm,  to  the 
study  of  medicine,  for  proficiency  in  which 
this  city  was  famous.  It  was  more  common 
then  than  at  the  present  day,  for  young  men 
of  liberal  fortunes  to  make  themselves  ac- 
quainted with  all  the  sciences,  even  though 
they  never  expected  to  become  regular  prac- 
titioners. The  infirmity  of  his  frame  was 
also  an  inducement  for  him  to  learn  something 
of  the  healing  art.  He  gained  the  confidence 
and  favour  of  the  most  eminent  scholars  at 
Padua,  who  were  surprised  at  his  attainments. 
The  Englishmen  sojourning  in  that  country 


22 


THE  LIFE  OF 


burdened  liim  so  much  with  their  visits,  that 
he  retreated  to  various  country  places,  some- 
times as  much  as  forty  miles  from  the  city. 
He  occasionally  remained  for  a  time  at  Ve- 
nice, under  the  roof  of  Sir  Dudley  Charlton, 
the  English  ambassador,  who  treated  him 
with  great  hospitality. 

While  he  resided  at  Padua,  he  was  seized 
with  a  violent  illness.  His  medical  friends 
held  a  consultation  over  him,  and  expressed 
their  fear  that  he  was  near  his  end.  It  was 
their  opinion  that  blood-letting  was  the  proper 
remedy,  if  there  was  any  which  could  prove 
successful ;  but  when  it  was  proposed  to  him, 
he  declared  his  belief  that  it  would  only  has- 
ten his  death.  A  very  old  Italian  doctor  was 
present,  who  said  that  the  young  man  was  his 
own  best  physician,  and  prevailed  upon  the 
others  to  defer  bleeding ;  and  within  three  or 
four  days  they  were  all  convinced  that  he  was 
right.  This  old  gentleman  was  transported 
with  joy  at  having  contributed  towards  his 
recovery,  and  used  to  come  every  day,  and  sit 
for  hours  with  his  patient,  enjoying  his  con- 
versation and  wondering  at  his  piety.  It  was 
^  great  trial  to  Mr.  Ferrar  to  be  dangerously 


NICHOLAS   FERRAR.  23 

ill  among  ignorant  and  superstitious  people, 
where  the  Bible  was  forbidden,  and  religious 
fellowship  unknown. 

Upon  his  recovery  he  proposed  to  visit 
Rome.  This  great  city  has  always  been  the 
principal  attraction  of  travellers  in  Italy.  Its 
ancient  greatness,  its  noble  ruins,  and  its  speci- 
mens of  art  are  highly  gratifying  to  scholars 
and  men  of  taste.  Besides  this,  it  is  the  centre 
of  the  Romish  church,  the  residence  of  the  pope 
and  cardinals,  and  the  place  where  the  papacy 
may  be  viewed  in  perfection.  Mr.  Ferrar  was  a 
scholar,  and  he  wished  to  see  the  spot  most 
famous  in  ancient  history  ;  he  was  a  Christian 
and  a  Protestant,  and  he  was  desirous  of  a 
better  insight  into  the  church-politics  of  pope- 
ry. The  Jesuits  were  at  this  time  in  the 
height  of  power,  and  the  spirit  of  persecution 
was  displayed  upon  every  suitable  occasion 
towards  those  who  were  called  heretics.  There 
was  a  college  of  English  Jesuits  at  Rome,  and 
Mr.  Ferrar  was  informed  that  these  men  were 
on  the  watch  for  him  ;  that  they  had  an  exact 
description  of  his  person  and  manners,  and 
were  acquainted  with  all  his  movements ;  and 
that  they  already  suspected  him  of  having 


34 


THE   LIFE  OF 


some  bad  design  in  visiting  Italy.  It  was  not 
then  so  safe  to  visit  Roman  Catholic  coun- 
tries as  it  is  in  these  days.  Mr.  Ferrar,  there- 
fore, travelled  from  Padua,  in  a  very  private 
manner,  on  foot.  He  arrived  at  Rome  upon 
Monday  in  what  is  called  Holy  Week,  before 
Easter  day.  He  changed  his  lodgings  every 
night,  and  stayed  only  ten  days.  This  time  he 
used  so  judiciously,  as  to  see  every  thing  that 
was  remarkable  at  that  season  of  pomp. 

Upon  one  occasion  he  was  so  imprudent  as 
to  press  into  a  gallery  through  which  the 
pope  was  at  that  moment  passing  in  great 
state.  As  is  usual,  the  multitude  fell  upon 
their  knees  to  ask  an  indulgence.  Mr.  Fer- 
rar was  a  man  who  possessed  all  the  courtesy 
of  those  times,  and  he  would  willingly  have 
paid  those  compliments  to  the  pope  which  he 
might  demand  as  a  mere  prince.  He  was, 
however,  a  sincere  Protestant,  and  stood  erect 
for  some  moments,  unwilling  to  bow  down  to 
the  pretended  vicar  of  Christ.  The  conse- 
quences might  have  been  serious,  had  not  one 
of  the  Swiss  guards  laid  his  heavy  hand  on 
his  shoulder,  and  pressed  him  down.  When 
the  pope  had  passed,  and  the  Swiss  released 


NICHOLAS  FERR  A  R.  25 

him,  he  departed  with  the  crowd.  He  used 
to  say  that  he  felt  the  hand  of  his  br^nvny  pre- 
server for  a  whole  week  afterwards,  and  that 
he  frequented  such  assemblages  no  more. 


36 


THE   LIFE  OF 


CHAPTER  III. 

Mr.  Ferrar  is  sick  in  France — Escapes  from  a  Pirate — 
Adventures  in  Spain — Sails  for  London. 

It  was  now  time  for  our  young  traveller  to 
leave  Italy.  He  therefore  went  to  Marseilles, 
intending  to  go  thence  by  sea  into  Spain. 
Providence,  however,  detained  him  longer  than 
he  had  expected,  by  an  illness  more  violent 
than  that  which  he  had  suffered  at  Padua.  The 
person  at  whose  house  he  lodged,  as  well  as 
the  physician  who  attended  him,  took  him  for 
a  knight  of  Malta.  These  knights  were  a  so- 
ciety of  religious  warriors,  under  subjection 
to  the  pope,  who  had  fought  in  Palestine  du- 
ring the  crusades,  and  who  for  a  long  period 
held  the  island  of  Malta  in  their  possession. 
The  way  in  which  these  persons  came  to 
think  thus  of  Mr.  Ferrar  was  this.  While  he 
lay  ill,  they  saw  among  his  curiosities  one 
of  the  little  crosses  worn  by  those  knights, 
which  was  presented  to  him  while  he  was 
among  them.  He  was,  therefore,  treated  with 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR.  27 

high  respect,  especially  by  the  doctor,  who 
was  astonished  to  hear  a  young  knight  of 
Malta  express  himself  so  learnedly  upon  the 
subject  of  medicine. 

Soon  after  he  was  taken  ill,  he  wrote  an 
importunate  letter  to  a  very  intimate  friend, 
Mr.  Garton,  at  Venice,  urging  the  latter  by 
every  affectionate  entreaty  to  come  and  see 
him.  In  this  letter  he  stated,  that  he  was 
alone  among  strangers  ;  that  he  had  no  reli- 
gious adviser,  and  no  religious  book  ;  and  that 
he  needed  a  friend  to  secure  for  him  a  decent 
interment.  Thus  was  his  faith  again  tried, 
and  his  soul  again  reduced  to  the  necessity  of 
giving  up  all  earthly  hopes.  He  grew  worse 
and  worse,  and  his  disorder  arrived  at  such  a 
critical  point,  that  he  clearly  saw  a  few  hours 
more  would  bring  relief,  either  by  amendment 
or  death.  The  physician  sadly  took  leave  of 
him,  expecting  never  again  to  see  him  alive. 

There  are  few  things  which  put  Christian 
graces  to  a  more  severe  test  than  dangerous 
sickness.  The  trial  is  greatly  aggravated 
when  one  suffers  alone,  afar  from  friends,  and 
in  a  strange  land.  Yet  this  young  man  did 
not  yield  to  despondency.    He  resigned  him- 


28 


THE  LIFE  OF 


self  to  the  will  of  his  heavenly  Father,  and  at 
the  same  time  prayed  night  and  day  that  God 
would  grant  him  his  favour.  Soon  after  the 
departure  of  the  physician,  it  pleased  God  to 
answer  his  prayers.  He  fell  into  a  refreshing 
slumber,  from  which  he  awaked  in  much  com- 
fort. The  attendants  thought  his  speedy 
amendment  to  be  little  short  of  a  miracle,  and 
we  may  all  allow  that  it  was  a  special  blessing 
of  divine  Providence.  To  double  his  thanks 
and  praises,  his  dear  friend  Mr.  Garton,  from 
Venice,  arrived  about  the  same  time,  came  in 
weeping,  and  never  left  him  until  he  had  en- 
tirely recovered.  In  this  instance,  as  in  many 
others,  we  see  the  accomplishment  of  that  pro- 
mise to  the  believer :  "  The  Lord  will  strength- 
en him  upon  the  bed  of  languishing :  Thou 
wilt  make  all  his  bed  in  his  sickness." — Ps. 
xli.  3. 

Soon  after  his  recovery,  he  embarked,  in  a 
small  English  vessel  of  twelve  guns,  for  a  port 
in  Spain.  At  that  time  the  Mediterranean  Sea 
was  greatly  infested  with  pirates  or  corsairs. 
Some  of  these  were  Turkish,  and  others  Moor- 
ish. This  enormity  has  been  very  much  done 
away,  of  late,  by  the  European  and  American 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR.  29 

squadrons  which  guard  that  sea.  Before  they 
had  been  long  out,  a  Turkish  pirate  gave 
chase  to  their  little  vessel,  and  was  gaining 
upon  them  every  hour.  The  master  and  mate 
were  courageous,  but  the  seamen  trembled 
with  fear,  and  were  desirous  of  striking  their 
colours,  and  surrendering  without  a  shot.  Mr. 
Ferrar  kept  his  stand  upon  deck,  and  listened 
to  all  that  was  said,  though  he  made  no  re- 
mark. The  master  of  the  vessel  at  length 
asked  his  opinion,  observing :  "This  young 
gentleman  has  a  life  to  lose  as  well  as  we  ; 
shall  we  hear  what  he  thinks  of  it  ?"  Here 
we  may  observe  that  true  piety  is  the  greatest 
source  of  genuine  courage.  Mr.  Ferrar  had 
in  his  mind  those  words  of  David  :  "  Let  us 
fall  into  the  hands  of  God,  and  not  into  the 
hands  of  men."  More  especially  he  dreaded 
to  fall  into  the  inhuman  hands  of  murderers. 
He  therefore  encouraged  them  to  be  manful, 
and  defend  their  vessel.  He  addressed  the 
crew,  and  set  before  them  the  horrid  fate  they 
might  expect  in  case  of  capture.  His  words 
had  such  an  effect  upon  them  that  they  pre- 
pared for  self-defence,  and  none  was  more  ac- 
tive or  resolute  than  young  Ferrar.  The  pi- 
c  2 


30 


THE  LIFE  OF 


rate  had  been  trying  for  some  time  to  get  the 
advantage  of  the  wind,  or  what  is  called  the 
weather-gage,  and  was  apparently  just  about 
to  bear  down  upon  them.  The  English  cap- 
tain determined  to  seize  the  little  opportunity 
allowed,  and  give  them  a  broadside,  but  just 
as  he  was  about  making  a  signal  to  the  gimner, 
the  Turkish  ship,  to  their  great  astonishment 
and  deliglit,  fell  off,  and  steered  away  with  all 
the  sail  she  could  make.  They  soon  disco- 
vered the  reason  of  this.  A  much  larger  ship, 
promising  greater  booty,  had  appeared  in 
sight,  and  the  corsair  turned  to  pursue  her. 
They  thanked  God,  and  expressed  their  obli- 
gation to  the  gallant  passenger  who  had  done 
so  much  to  animate  their  sinking  spirits. 

War  and  bloodshed  are  plainly  contrary  to 
the  spirit  of  the  gospel.  Christians  are  divided 
in  their  sentiments  even  as  to  resistance  in 
self-defence.  We  give  this  account  only  as 
matter  of  history,  without  expressing  any  opi- 
nion on  the  question  alluded  to. 

Ferrar,  being  now  fairly  landed  in  Spain, 
made  the  best  of  his  way  to  the  capital,  where 
he  expected  remittances  of  money  from  his 
father.    Upon  inquiring,  however,  of  the  Eng- 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR.  31 

lish  merchants  at  Madrid,  he  fdund  that  no 
such  supplies  had  been  sent.  The  winning 
demeanour  and  interesting  discourse  of  the 
young  traveller  induced  these  gentlemen  to 
make  him  every  offer  of  assistance,  but  this 
he  saw  fit  to  decline.  Yet  he  was  almost  pen- 
niless, and  felt  much  embarrassment.  It  was 
his  intention  to  make  the  tour  of  Spain,  and 
then  to  pass  through  France  into  England. 
While  he  was  deliberating  upon  the  course 
which  he  should  now  take,  he  received  the  pain- 
ful news,  that  his  family  was  involved  in  sad 
distresses,  and  that  his  presence  was  absolute- 
ly necessary  to  extricate  and  relieve  them. 
Abandoning,  therefore,  his  long-expected  visit 
to  France,  he  determined  to  go  directly  to  St. 
Sebastians,  and  take  ship  for  England. 

Poverty  is  a  grievous  yoke  when  it  falls 
suddenly  upon  those  who  have  been  brought 
up  in  affluence.  Happy  are  they  who,  through 
divine  grace,  are  enabled  to  bear  such  reverses 
with  serenity  and  content !  Mr.  Ferrar  imme- 
diately sold  some  of  his  jewels  to  supply 
his  present  necessity,  and  then,  with  a  costly 
*'  rapier  in  his  hand,  he  set  out  in  cuerpo,  that 


32  THELIFEOF 

is,  as  we  say,  in  his  shirt  sleeves,  to  travel  on 
foot.  He  was  a  Protestant  in  a  land  of  per- 
secution, without  money,  without  protection  ; 
yet  he  cast  himself  upon  that  kind  Providence 
which  had  protected  him  so  long,  and  chose 
this  method  of  travelling,  that  he  might  pass 
through  the  country  with  less  suspicion. 

About  this  time  there  was  a  war  in  Flanders, 
which  excited  very  general  attention,  and 
wherever  our  traveller  stopped  he  usually 
made  many  inquiries  upon  this  subject.  Hence 
there  were  many  who  took  him  for  a  young 
Italian  gentleman,  going  to  Flanders,  to  serve 
under  the  Marquis  Spinola,  a  great  comman- 
der in  the  Spanish  service.  At  one  little  town, 
the  governor  insisted  upon  having  his  valuable 
rapier.  This  he  refused,  saying,  that  a  man 
of  courage  ought  never  to  surrender  his  sword. 
The  governor  still  demanded  it.  Ferrar  an- 
swered resolutely,  that  if  it  were  forced  from 
him,  he  should  find  friends  at  court  who  would 
secure  him  his  rights.  It  was  thought  from 
this,  that  he  was  some  distinguished  person  m 
disguise,  for  this  kind  of  concealment  was 
common  at  that  day.    The  governor  therefore 


NICHOLAS   FERRAR.  33 

said  :  "  Well,  sir,  I  did  this  only  to  tiy  you; 
I  see  you  love  your  arms,  which,  indeed,  is 
soldier-like ;  I  perceive  you  are  for  the  Fle- 
mish wars  under  your  countryman  Spinola." 
He  then  allowed  him  to  proceed  upon  his 
wearisome  journey.    .  '  *•  j 

He  used  to  relate  what  he  supposed  to  be  a 
narrow  escape  out  of  danger  upon  this  solitary 
•journey.  On  a  certain  day,  as  he  toiled  along 
his  way,  guessing  at  the  path  by  directions 
which  had  been  given,  he  found  the  even- 
ing beginning  to  close  upon  him.  The  road 
seemed  to  lead  up  a  very  high  hill.  This  he 
ascended  with  some  difficulty,  and  found  him- 
self near  a  vast  circuit  of  ground,  flanked  and 
bulwarked  on  every  side  with  steep  rocks, 
^nd  without  any  visible  outlet.  His  perplexity 
was  great,  for  he  saw  that  be  had  mistaken  his 
way,  and  thought  it  likely  that  he  must  spend 
the  night  in  the  open  air.  Under  these  cir- 
cumstances, he  betook  himself  to  prayer,  be- 
seeching God  to  direct  and  help  him.  It  was 
too  late  to  turn  back,  and  he  looked  in  every 
direction  for  some  path.  Just  then  he  spied  a 
great  black  hog  running  out  between  two 


34 


THE  LIFE  OF 


rocks.  He  ran  after  the  animal,  to  see  whither 
it  might  lead,  in  hopes  that  some  dwelling 
was  not  far  distant.  At  length  he  saw  it  run 
down  at  the  further  end  of  the  mountain,  and 
going  thither,  he  perceived  a  recess  hewn  out 
of  the  rock,  with  something  like  a  window. 
He  entered  into  a  winding  passage,  which 
grew  more  dark  until  he  came  to  a  glimmering 
of  more  light  again,  from  a  similar  window. 
Upon  listening,  he  overheard  human  voices, 
and  found  this  to  be  a  Venta,  or  miserable  Spa- 
nish tavern.  Having  no  choice,  he  entered 
and  saluted  the  host,  who  wondered  how  he 
reached  the  place.  "Very  soon  he  found  that 
he  had  fallen  into  wretched  company.  He, 
therefore,  said  that  he  needed  repose,  and  lay 
down  on  a  bench  to  sleep,  with  his  rapier  in 
his  hand.  He  had  not  lain  long,  before  two 
men  of  ferocious  appearance,  accompanied  by 
a  female,  entered.  In  order  to  decoy  the 
stranger  into  a  brawl,  one  of  these  ruffians 
insulted  the  woman  ;  the  other  protected  her, 
and  so  they  proceeded  to  feign  a  battle.  They 
flourished  their  swords,  and  the  weaker  called 
on  the  stranger  to  lend  his  aid,  Ferrar,  know- 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR. 


35 


ing  that  they  meant  to  rob  him,  lay  perfectly 
quiet.  By  means  of  the  landlord's  intercession 
the  quarrel  was  ended,  and  before  sunrise,  the 
guest  had  stolen  away.  Such  adventures  are 
by  no  means  rare,  even  at  the  present  day,  in 
Spain. 

At  length,  through  the  blessing  of  God,  he 
reached  Si.  Sebastians,  a  port  at  the  north  of 
Spain,  upon  the  Bay  of  Biscay.  Here  he  was 
detained  some  time,  waiting  for  a  fair  wind. 
The  English  merchants  treated  him  with 
great  tenderness,  and  made  him  numerous 
offers  of  money.  He  was  unwilling  to  take 
more  than  ten  pounds,  which  he  accepted  as  a 
loan.  Embarking  as  soon  as  the  wind  was 
favourable,  he  had  a  good  passage  to  Dover. 
Here  he  leaped  upon  shore,  fell  upon  his  face 
on  the  earth,  and  rendered  most  humble  thanks 
to  God,  his  heavenly  Father,  for  so  many  pre- 
servations abroad,  and  for  bringing  him  safely 
home  to  his  beloved  native  country.  The  sen- 
timents which  he  felt  were  probably  like  those 
which  the  poet  has  since  expressed : 

Thy  mercy  sweetened  every  toil, 

Made  every  region  please  : 
The  hoary  Alpine  hills  it  warm'd, 

And  smooth'd  the  Tyrrhene  seas. 


THE  LIFE  OF 


In  midst  of  dangers,  fears,  and  death, 
.   Thy  goodness  I  '11  adore, 
And  praise  thee  for  thy  mercies  past, 
And  humbly  hope  for  more. 

My  life,  if  thou  preserv'st  my  life, 

Thy  sacrifice  shall  be  ; 
And  death,  if  death  must  be  my  doom, 

Shall  join  ray  soul  to  thee. 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR. 


37 


CHAPTER  IV. 


Mr.  Ferrar  returns  home — Engages  in  the  Virginia 
Company — Is  elected  to  ParUament — Family  Diffi- 
culties— Plague. 

Mr.  Ferrar  iminediately  hastened  to  Lon- 
don, and  entering,  in  his  Spanish  dress,  the 
house  of  his  father,  knelt  before  the  old  gen- 
tleman, and  craved  his  blessing.  His  father 
did  not  know  him  until  he  named  himself,  but 
was  transported  with  joy  upon  the  discovery. 
After  six  years'  absence,  he  had  returned  with 
a  great  increase  of  health  and  accomplish- 
ments. It  was  his  desire  to  return  to  his  fel- 
lowship at  Clare-hall,  but  at  the  anxious  re- 
quest of  his  parents,  he  consented  to  take  up 
his  abode  in  London. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  the  Virginia 
Company  w^as  engaged  in  promoting  the  new 
colony  upon  the  banks  of  the  James  river,  in 
America ;  and  old  Mr.  Ferrar  was  very  deeply 
interested  in  this  scheme,  which  proved  in  the 
end  so  important  to  our  forefathers.  He  was 
an  intimate  friend  of  the  three  celebrated  voy- 
D 


38 


THE   LIFE  OF 


agers,  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  Sir  John  Hawkins, 
and  Sir  Francis  Drake. 

The  English  colonies  in  America  were  esta- 
blished during  the  reign  of  James  I.  Queen 
Elizabeth  had  done  little  more  than  to  give  a 
name  to  Virginia,  as  the  whole  of  the  Atlantic 
coast  was  then  called.  After  the  decay  of  one 
little  colony,  the  country  was  abandoned,  until, 
in  1606,  Newport  took  over  a  company  of  ad- 
venturers. In  1609  five  hundred  persons, 
under  Sir  Thomas  Gates  and  Sir  George  So- 
mers,  embarked  for  Virginia.  The  first  lot- 
tery ever  known  in  England  was  licensed  in 
aid  of  the  new  settlements,  of  which  Lord  De- 
laware was  governor.  In  1614  there  were 
not  alive  more  than  four  hundred.  The  Lon- 
don Company,  sometimes  called  the  Virginia 
Company,  had  received  its  patent  as  early  as 
1589.  It  was  a  highly  respectable  body,  em- 
bracing a  multitude  of  gentlemen,  barons, 
viscounts,  and  earls,  and  most  of  the  patrons 
of  literature  and  the  arts.  They  appear  to 
have  been  sincerely  desirous  of  establishing 
schools  in  America.*  It  may  be  interesting 
to  observe  that  king  Powhatan  died  in  1618, 
*  Hume,  vol.  iv.  p.  319.  Appendix 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR. 


39 


the  year  in  which  Raleigh  was  cruelly  be- 
headed. 

Men  of  every  class  were  found  ready  to  in- 
terest themselves  in  this  great  enterprise  of 
settling  the  wilds  of  Virginia.  Some  were 
anxious  to  give  a  home  and  employment  to 
unsettled  people.  Some  were  desirous  of  af- 
fording estates  to  younger  brothers  and  sons. 
Others  looked  further,  to  the  great  revenue 
which  would  accrue  from  the  commodities  of 
the  new  country ;  and  a  few  were  solicitous 
that  the  savages  of  the  forest  should  receive 
the  gospel.  Many  of  the  bishops  and  clergy 
lent  their  aid  in  this  affair.  It  is  said  that 
they  were  desirous  of  wiping  off  the  reproach 
cast  upon  Protestants  by  the  Church  of  Rome, 
that  the  former  converted  no  unbelievers  in 
foreign  lands.  And  it  must  be  confessed, 
that  there  was  but  a  slender  zeal  among  the 
Christians  of  England,  at  that  period,  for  the 
illumination  of  the  heathen ;  and  that  the 
early  settlers  in  Virginia  accomplished  no- 
thing directly  towards  this  great  object.* 

*  We  find  the  name  of  Mr.  N.  Ferrar  among  those  of  the 
Virgmia  adventurers  as  early  as  1620,  in  Smith's  History 
of  Virginia,  vol.  ii.  p.  45. 


4P  THELIFEOF 

One  of  the  missionaries  sent  to  America 
was  a  son  of  Dr.  William  Whitaker,  the 
celebrated  theologian  and  controvertist,  and 
master  of  St.  John's  college,  Cambridge.  This 
young  man  was  by  some  called  "  the  apostle 
of  Virginia." 

The  principal  manager  of  the  new  enter- 
prise, and  the  treasurer  of  the  Virginia  Com- 
pany, was  Sir  Edwin  Sandys.  With  this 
gentleman  young  Mr.  Ferrar  was  closely 
intimate.  Sir  Edward  was  a  learned  and 
worthy  man,  and  used  to  say  that  he  esteem- 
ed it  as  greatly  to  his  honour  to  be  the  pupil 
of  good  Richard  Hooker,  as  to  be  the  son  of 
the  Archbishop  of  York.  Old  Mr.  Ferrar 
gave  the  use  of  a  large  parlour  to  the  direct- 
ors of  the  Virginia  Company ;  and  this  little 
incident  has  some  interest  to  an  American 
reader,  who  cannot  but  imagine  how  the  de- 
bates and  councils  of  that  room  were  caused 
by  Providence  to  bear  upon  the  history  of  our 
native  land.  The  good  old  man  was  pleased 
to  see  his  son  fully  entering  into  the  same  ar- 
dour with  regard  to  the  new  settlements.  He 
and  his  brother,  Mr.  John  Ferrar,  gave  two 
shares  of  land  in  the  island  of  Bermuda  for 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR.  41 

the  establishment  of  a  free-school  there,  and 
sent  a  large  number  of  Bibles  and  Psalm-books 
for  the  use  of  the  children.  More  than  twenty 
noblemen  interested  themselves  in  this  under- 
taking ;  among  whom  the  most  distinguished 
was  Lord  Southampton,  who  had  been  the  in- 
timate friend  of  Shakspeare. 

Young  Mr.  Ferrar  became  the  acting  se- 
cretary of  the  Company,  though  he  w^ould 
not  consent  to  share  any  of  the  fees.  He 
was  named  upon  all  committees,  and  draught- 
ed all  the  letters  of  advice  which  were  writ- 
ten to  the  colonists.  He  framed  and  ordered 
all  instructions  as  to  government,  agriculture, 
and  commerce  ;  managed  the  fitting  out  of 
vessels,  and  had  a  part  in  all  the  active  busi- 
ness. Hence,  if  for  no  other  reason,  his  name 
deserves  to  be  remembered  by  American 
youth.  In  all  these  employments  he  acquired 
the  esteem  and  gratitude  of  those  who  patron- 
ised the  scheme,  and  evinced  at  the  same  time 
his  talents  and  his  probity. 

There  are  two  circumstances  which  occur- 
red about  this  time,  and  which  we  mention  as 
showing  the  estimation  in  which  Mr.  Ferrar 
was  held,  and  his  resolution  in  declining  flatter- 
D  2 


4^ 


THE  LIFE  OF 


ing  solicitations.  The  lecturer  on  mathematics 
at  Gresham  college  became  Savilian  professor 
at  Oxford,  and  left  the. former  situation  vacant. 
He  recommended  Mr.  Ferrar  as  his  successor, 
advising  the  directors  of  the  institution  to  se- 
cure to  themselves  his  influence  and  talents, 
even  if  they  should  find  it  necessary  to  aug- 
ment the  salary.  The  offer  was  accordingly 
made,  but  he  modestly  yet  firmly  declined  it ; 
declaring  that  he  had  other  intentions  and 
aims,  if  it  pleased  God  to  ripen  them  for  a 
happy  issue.  The  other  circumstance  is  as 
follows.  A  wealthy  merchant,  who  was  one 
of  the  Virginia  Company,  was  so  much  struck 
with  the  genius  and  virtues  of  this  uncommon 
young  man,  as  to  cause  him  to  be  informed, 
that  it  would  give  him  pleasure  to  settle  ten 
thousand  pounds  upon  his  only  daughter,  if 
Mr.  Ferrar  thought  proper  to  marry  her.  Such 
a  proceeding  was  more  common  at  that  day 
than  at  present.  He  endeavoured  to  evade 
this  by  some  pleasantry,  and  by  assuring  the 
father  that  he  was  not  worthy  to  venture  upon 
the  management  of  so  great  an  estate.  The 
gentleman  insisted  with  an  importunity  which 
was  scarcely  delicate.    Mr.  Ferrar  then  as- 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR.  43 

sured  him,  that  his  plans  of  life  were  matured, 
that  he  had  consulted  his  own  character  and 
disposition,  and  was  resolved  to  lead  a  single 
life.  In  truth,  he  had  already  determined  to 
retire  from  public  life,  and  to  share  what  re- 
mained of  the  family  estate  with  his  relations. 
The  disappointed  father  reluctantly  submit- 
ted ;  saying,  however,  that  if  the  young  man 
never  married,  he  should  take  it  the  more  pa- 
tiently.   He  continued  to  be  a  firm  friend. 

In  the  year  1624,  a  parliament  was  called, 
and  Mr.  Ferrar  was  e'ected  a  member  of  the 
House  of  Commons.  He  took  a  conspicuous 
part  in  public  business  ;  but  the  account  of 
this  could  not  be  interesting  to  our  readers,  and 
is  therefore  omitted.  It  has  already  been 
hinted  that  his  return  from  the  continent  of 
Europe  was  hastened  by  family  embarrass- 
ments. These  were  so  great  that  it  seemed 
highly  probable  that  the  whole  estate  would 
be  lost.  Although  he  was  the  younger  bro- 
ther, he  was  called  upon  to  take  the  principal 
management  of  this  business ;  which  he  did 
so  effectually,  that  soon  after  the  death  of  his 
father,  the  whole  affair  was  happily  adjusted, 
and  the  family  restored  to  competence.  Such 


44 


THE  LIFE  OF 


was  his  pious  acknowledgment  of  the  divine 
favour,  in  thus  rescuing  them  when  they  were 
to  all  appearance  sinking,  that  he  ever  after- 
wards set  apart  the  last  day  of  every  month  as 
a  day  of  devotion.  At  that  day,  prayers  and 
praises  for  the  deliverance  of  the  family  were 
regularly  offered  up,  until  the  troubles  of  the 
ensuing  period  broke  up  the  happy  society. 

The  year  1625  is  memorable  in  the  history 
of  London  as  that  in  which  Charles  I.  came 
to  the  crown.  It  was  also  remarkable  for  the 
great  prevalence  of  the  plague.  This  pesti- 
lential disorder  has  generally  been  supposed 
to  have  its  principal  seat  in  Egypt,  but  was, 
for  many  years,  the  scourge  of  Europe.  It 
first  appeared  in  London  in  1593,  and  de- 
stroyed more  than  eleven  thousand  persons. 
In  1603  it  returned,  and  with  greater  violence, 
as  thirty-six  thousand  are  supposed  to  have 
died.  Its  next  appearance  was  in  the  year 
of  which  we  are  speaking.  It  is  calculated 
that  the  persons  who  fell  victims  to  it  amount- 
ed to  thirty-five  thousand  five  hundred.  And 
this  mortality  will  appear  the  greater  when 
we  recollect  that  London  was  less  populous 
at  that  time  than  the  city  of  New  York  is  at 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR. 


45 


present.  We  have  all  learned  from  the  preva- 
lence of  Cholera  in  our  own  country,  how 
great  is  the  alarm  produced  by  such  a  visita- 
tion. In  the  case  of  the  plague,  the  panic 
was  still  greater,  as  it  was  universally  believ- 
ed to  be  in  the  highest  degree  contagious. 
No  one  doubted  the  possibility  of  its  being 
communicated  by  means  of  clothing,  books, 
or  even  papers.  In  the  present  instance,  it 
occasioned  the  adjournment  of  king  Charles' 
first  parliament  from  London  to  Oxford,  and 
finally  the  dissolution  of  that  body,  when  the 
pestilence  reached  the  latter  place.  The  naval 
expedition  against  Spain  was  forced  to  return 
in  consequence  of  its  seizing  some  of  the  sea- 
men and  soldiers.  It  is  to  be  remarked  that 
in  1636,  the  plague  carried  off  about  as  many 
more,  and  that  its  last  ravages  were  in  the 
year  1665,  when  nearly  seventy  thousand  died 
of  it  in  London  alone.  This  visitation  is 
justly  called  the  Great  Plague  of  London. 

True  religion  is  the  only  sure  preventive 
of  fear,  under  such  circumstances  of  alarm. 
A  preparation  for  eternity,  and  a  good  hope 
through  grace,  can  remove  the  fear  even  of 
sudden  death  by  pestilence.    Those  who  are 


46 


THE  LIFE  OF 


the  last  to  fly,  the  boldest  in  facing  danger, 
and  the  readiest  to  relieve  the  distressed,  are 
ever  found  to  be  the  truly  pious. 

In  the  next  house  to  that  in  which  the  Fer- 
rars  lived,  there  was  a  death  by  the  plague. 
Some  of  the  family  were  invited  to  the  funeral, 
and  being  ignorant  of  the  disease,  attended  it. 
Shortly  after,  a  second  person  was  seized  in 
the  same  house,  and  Mr.  Ferrar,  beginning  to 
understand  the  danger,  instantly  removed  his 
mother  and  the  rest  of  the  household  to  Mrs. 
Collet's,  in  Cambridgeshire.  Being  himself 
engaged,  however,  in  settling  the  affairs  of 
the  estate,  he  would  not  leave  the  city,  until 
he  had  paid  every  debt,  and  cleared  himself 
of  all  engagements.  At  this  time,  the  deaths 
in  London  amounted  to  four  thousand  in  a 
single  week.  God  preserved  him  during  all 
this  time  of  pestilence,  and  returned  him  safely 
to  his  beloved  relatives. 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR, 


47 


CHAPTER  V. 

The  Family  of  Ferrars  retire  into  the  Country, 

Not  long  before  this,  Mr.  Ferrar  had  pur- 
chased an  estate  in  an  obscure  part  of 'Hunting- 
donshire, called  Little-Gidding.  It  was  finely 
situated,  in  a  delightful  climate,  but  the  coun- 
try around  was  almost  a  solitude.  There  was- 
no  dwelling  in  the  whole  parish,  except  the- 
manor-house,  and  a  cottage  for  the  shepherds 
and  their  dogs.  The  estate  lay  in  pasture^ 
and  needed  no  greater  care.  To  this  retire- 
ment Mr.  Ferrar  sent  his  brother  John,  about 
the  beginning  of  the  plague,  to  make  ready  an 
apartment  for  him  :  and  when  his  business  in 
London  was  concluded,  he  went  thither  him- 
self, in  order  to  be  far  from  society.  Accord- 
ing to  the  notions  of  those  times,  he  was  afraid 
of  communicating  the  infection  to  his  friends, 
and  entreated  his  mother  to  remain  with  her 
daughter  at  Bourne,  until,  by  a  month's  expo- 
sure of  himself  to  the  sun  and  air,  he  should 


48 


THE  LIFE  OF 


do  away  all  fear  of  contagion.  The  affection- 
ate old  lady  would  not  consent  to  this,  but  in 
her  anxiety  to  see  her  beloved  son,  who  had 
hazarded  his  life  for  their  sake,  set  out  to  visit 
him.  She  arrived  at  Gidding  three  days  after 
his  coming,  and  their  meeting  was  an  affecting 
one.  Both  were  full  of  thanks  to  God  for  his 
providential  kindness.  He  entreated  her  to 
corae  into  the  ruinous  old  house,  and  rest 
herself.  "  Not  so,"  said  she,  "yonder  I  see 
the  church,  let  us  first  go  thither,  to  give  God 
thanks  that  he  has  brought  me  to  this  good 
place,  and  restored  me  my  son."  He  informed 
her  that  through  the  irreligion  of  the  former 
inhabitant,  the  place  of  worship  had  been  turn- 
ed into  a  barn  and  hog-sty,  and  was  at  that 
moment  filled  with  hay,  which  he  intended  as 
soon  as  possible  to  remove.  Mrs.  Ferrar 
seems  to  have  had  something  of  the  temper 
which  Augustin  ascribes  to  his  mother  Moni- 
ca, when  he  says  of  her,  that  if  a  dragon  had 
stood  between  her  and  the  altar,  he  verily 
believed  she  would  have  braved  it  to  advance 
thither.  To  such  strong  associations  of  sanc- 
tity with  the  place  of  worship,  we  must  add 
the  fact,  that  at  that  day,  churches  were  much 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR.  49^ 

nsed  for  private  devotion,  and  we  shall  be  able 
to  account  for  the  earnestness  of  Mrs.  Ferrar. 
She  persevered  in  going  to  the  church,  pressed 
in  as  far  as  she  could,  and  kneeled  and  wept 
there  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour.  She  then 
charged  her  son  to  send  for  all  the  labourers 
about  the  house,  and  instantly  to  remove  the 
hay  from  the  church,  and  cleanse  it  as  far  as 
was  practicable.  She  saw  this  done  before 
she  would  leave  the  door  of  her  house.  She 
then  proceeded  to  enter  the  old  mansion,  in 
which  there  was  scarcely  a  room  fit  to  be  in- 
habited. Yet  they  were  cheerful  and  happy, 
and  the  next  morning  employed  themselves  in 
making  preparation  for  the  repairing  of  the 
church.  If  some  persons  should  see  in  this 
conduct  a  measure  of  superstition,  others  will 
be  ready  to  acknowledge  that  it  indicates  sin- 
cerity of  devotion  ;  reminding  us  of  the  Psalm- 
ist's vow,  to  give  himself  no  rest  until  he  had 
found  out  a  place  for  the  house  of  the  Lord. 
She  made  public  acknowledgment,  indeed,  at 
this  very  time,  that  she  had  solemnly  engaged 
to  serve  God  more  faithfully  than  she  had  here- 
tofore done,  and  to  be  more  and  more  a  temple 
of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Her  heart  was  filled  with 
E 


50 


THE  LIFE  OF 


gratitude  to  the  Most  High,  for  having  re- 
deemed her  and  her  children  from  death,  and 
her  lips  were  employed  with  the  words  :  The 
lines  have  fallen  unto  me  in  pleasant  places;  J 
have  a  goodly  heritage. 

Still  the  family  were  not  all  collected.  At 
the  expiration  of  a  month,  therefore,  she  sent 
to  Mrs.  Collet's,  at  Bourne,  for  her  children, 
grandchildren,  and  other  relatives,  that  they 
might  all  enter  upon  their  new  mode  of  life  at 
Little-Gidding.  The  dilapidated  house  was 
then  put  through  a  course  of  repairs,  which  it 
greatly  needed,  as  the  family  consisted  of 
about  forty  persons.  More  than  twenty  of 
these  were  the  descendants  of  old  Mrs.  Fer- 
rar.  It  was  their  custom,  conformably  to  the 
manner  of  that  age,  to  kneel  down  every 
morning  and  receive  her  blessing.  It  was  a 
time  of  general  distress,  and  there  were  many 
difficulties  in  the  family  affairs,  but  Mr.  Fer- 
rar  now  proceeded  to  execute  the  darling 
plan  of  his  life,  and  to  establish  a  household 
which  should  make  religion  its  great  concern. 
The  church  was  completed,  and  they  indulged 
an  innocent  pleasure  in  laying,  with  their  own 
hands,  each  a  stone  of  the  additional  building. 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR. 


51 


As  the  pla^e  was  prevailing  in  London  to 
an  awful  extent,  the  whole  family  determined 
to  assemble  in  the  church  three  times  every- 
day, and  the  minister  of  the  next  parish,  called 
Steeple-Gidding,  offered  to  assist  them.  He 
was  a  friendly  man,  and  proved  a  great  bless- 
ing to  them  in  succeeding  years.  With  a 
willing  heart  he  joined  them  in  all  their  acts 
of  w  orship,  and  these  were  very  numerous. 
The  solitary  situation  of  the  manor-house  con- 
tributed very  much  to  the  quietness,  peace, 
and  devotion  of  the  happy  family.  They  were 
far  from  the  court,  far  from  the  bustle  of  trade, 
far  from  the  idle  curiosity  which  is  ever  seek- 
ing some  new  thing.  Their  family  constituted 
the  whole  parish,  and  they  began  to  experi- 
ence the  sweetness  of  a  secluded  life.  Where 
retirement  is  sought  for  pious  purposes,  and 
is  employed  in  holy  acts,  it  exempts  from 
many  temptations,  and  conduces  to  purity  of 
mind.  While  this  unhealthy  summer  was  a 
time  of  general  distress  throughout  England, 
they  were  permitted  by  a  kind  Providence  to 
spend  the  time  in  great  tranquillity  and  safety. 

The  Ferrars  remained  at  Little-Gidding 
during  the  winter,  and  in  the  spring  of  1626 


52 


THE  LIFE  OF 


made  a  short  visit  to  London.  The  old  lady 
intended  this  as  her  farewell  to  the  capital. 
She  took  leave  of  her  friends,  let  her  house 
in  the  city,  and  made  a  final  settlement  of  all 
her  pecuniary  affairs.  Their  haste  was  the 
greater,  as  Mr.  Ferrar  intended,  at  the  ap- 
proaching Whitsuntide,  to  enter  into  holy 
orders,  and  become  a  regular  minister  in  the 
church  of  England.  He  therefore  devoted 
much  time  to  solemn  preparation,  by  fasting 
and  prayer,  and  spent  the  whole  of  the  night 
preceding  that  day  in  watching  and  devotion. 
Yet  his  purpose  was  kept  an  entire  secret  from 
the  other  members  of  the  family. 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR. 


53 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Family  Establishment  at  Little-Gidding — Rules — Man- 
ner of  spending  the  Lord's-day — Sunday-school. 

We  are  now  about  to  relate  the  manner  in 
which  this  remarkable  man  prepared  himself 
and  his  family  for  a  more  entire  devotion  of 
themselves  to  the  service  of  God.  And  here, 
in  order  to  prevent  mistake,  it  will  be  proper 
to  make  a  few  introductory  observations.  No 
reader  will  be  likely  to  question  the  sincerity 
of  Mr.  Ferrar's  zeal  and  piety,  but  there  will 
be  a  difference  of  opinion  as  to  the  wisdom  of 
the  methods  which  he  pursued.  It  has  al- 
ready been  said  that  we  do  not  mean  to  re- 
commend his  practice  as  an  example  in  every 
particular.  Our  object  is  to  present  a  fair  and 
faithful  narrative.  The  reader  will  judge  how 
far  this  evinces  his  discretion  and  Christian 
jardour.  Even  among  Protestants,  there  are 
isome  points  upon  which  true  Christians  differ. 
All  are  not  agreed  respecting  the  government 
E  2 


54 


THE   LIFE  OF 


of  the  church,  the  forms  of  worship,  the  ob- 
servance of  fasts  and  festivals,  and  a  variety  of 
similar  particulars.  In  all  these  respects,  Mr. 
Ferrar,  as  it  will  be  seen,  was  a  conscientious 
member  of  the  church  of  England.  The  wri- 
ter of  this  biography  holds  other  sentiments, 
and  is  of  a  different  persuasion :  yet  he  ho- 
nours the  devotion  manifested  by  this  excel- 
lent man,  and  believes  that  many  who  differ 
in  these  matters  will  cordially  agree  in  re- 
specting the  instances  of  piety  here  recorded. 

Mr.  Ferrar,  having  resolved  to  enter  into 
holy  orders,  kept  this  determination  to  him- 
self, lest  he  should  be  perplexed  by  the  op- 
position of  his  friends.  The  only  individual  to 
whom  he  confided  his  purpose  was  his  former 
tutor,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Lindsell  of  Clare-hall.  This 
good  man  was  filled  with  joy  at  the  tidings  ; 
he  was  like  one  in  a  dream,  and  could  scarcely 
credit  his  own  ears.  It  was  delightful  to  him 
to  hear  that  his  pupil,  renouncing  all  his  fair 
prospects  of  eminence  in  the  state  and  the 
world,  was  willing  to  devote  himself  to  the 
special  service  of  God,  and  he  was  persuaded 
that,  by  the  divine  blessing,  he  would  shine 
among  those  who  turn  many  to  righteousness. 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR. 


55 


Early  upon  Trinity  Sunday,  Mr.  Ferrar  went 
with  this  friend  to  Henry  the  Seventh's  Cha- 
pel, at  Westminster  Abbey,  and  there  received 
orders  as  a  deacon  from  the  Bishop  of  Lon- 
don. Towards  evening,  he  returned  home  to 
his-  mother,  and  begged  her  to  hear  something 
which  he  wished  to  read  to  her.  He  then 
drew  from  his  bosom  a  parchment,  signed 
with  his  own  hand,  containing  a  solemn  vow 
which  he  had  made,  that  since  Almighty  God 
had  afforded  him  so  many  gracious  deliver- 
ances, and  had  rescued  his  family  from  im- 
pending ruin,  he  would  now  separate  himself 
to  serve  God  in  a  holy  calling,  and  to  be  the 
spiritual  guide  of  his  own  numerous  relations. 
His  mother  and  friends  were  as  much  amazed 
as  delighted  with  this  information.  The 
pious  woman  showered  her  tears  and  blessings 
upon  him,  beseeching  God  to  fill  him  every 
day  more  and  more  with  his  Holy  Spirit,  and 
to  grant  him  a  long  life,  as  an  unspeakable 
blessing  to  her,  and  the  whole  family.  They 
all  assured  him,  that  they  also,  by  God's  as- 
sistance, would  seek,  with  greater  care  and 
diligence  than  ever,  the  one  thing  needful. 
The  news  of  this  unexpected  event  was 


56 


THE   LIFE  OF 


quickly  spread  through  the  city  and  court. 
There  were  some  friends  who  censured  his 
imprudence.  There  were  more  who  wondered 
at  his  decision.  The  best  and  wisest  highly 
■commended  him,  and  among-  the  rest,  his 
friend  Sir  Edwin  Sandys.  This  gentleman 
made  it  his  last  request  to  him  that  he  would 
be  his  executor,  and  charged  his  lady  to  do 
nothing  without  the  advice  of  Mr.  Ferrar.  A 
member  of  the  Virginia  Compan}^  supposing 
that  he  would  not  refuse  preferment  in  the 
church,  though  he  had  declined  state-promo- 
tion, offered  him  a  living  of  three  hundred 
pounds  a  year.  Another  nobleman  invited 
his  acceptance  of  a  living  of  four  hundred 
pounds.  Both  these  he  refused,  saying  that 
he  had  already  parted  with  all  his  property, 
by  sharing  it  equally  with  his  kindred,  and 
that  he  would  now  employ  his  poor  abilities 
in  striving  for  their  spiritual  welfare. 

The  little  church  at  Gidding  was  now  fitted 
up  with  great  care  for  divine  service,  and  it 
was  a  favourite  employment  of  Mrs.  Ferrar 
to  arrange  and  beautify  it.  An  old  dove-house 
which  belonged  to  the  manor  was  emptied  of 
its  pigeons,  and  turned  into  a  handsome  school- 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR. 


57 


house.  Not  only  their  own  children,  but 
those  of  the  neighbouring  parishes  were  here 
admitted,  at  the  request  of  their  parents.  Al- 
though religion  was  the  great  thing  in  which 
they  were  instructed,  yet  proper  attention  was 
bestowed  upon  grammar,  %yriting,  arithmetic, 
and  music.  There  were  as  many  as  three 
different  masters  for  these  subject?.  Mr. 
Ferrar  then  assigned  to  his  nieces  and  female 
relations,  according  to  their  ages,  chambers, 
closets,  gardens,  and  pleasure-walks.  He 
fitted  up  convenient  lodgings  for  the  teachers 
and  scholars,  and  so  placed  his  own  apart- 
ments, in  the  centre  of  the  house,  that  he 
could  easily  oversee  the  whole.  He  provided 
a  room  called  the  Infirmary,  which  was  used 
for  the  care  of  such  as  were  taken  sick. 
Every  thing  was  according  to  fixed  rule. 
There  were  times  and  places  at  which  the 
children  and  youth  might  run,  and  leap,  and 
practise  with  the  bow  and  arrow.  On  Thurs- 
day and  Saturday  part  of  the  afternoon  was 
allowed  for  these  pastimes,  in  order  that  they 
might  not  suffer  in  health  for  want  of  exer- 
cise. 

The  young  women  of  the  family  were  nine 


58 


THE  LIFE  OF 


or  ten  in  number.  It  was  a  favourite  notion 
of  Mr.  Ferrar,  that  they  should  be  uniform  in 
dress ;  and  they  were  al  ways  appareled  in  a 
plain,  dark  stuff,  and  all  alike.  They  were 
caused  to  spend  much  time  at  needlework, 
and  this  was  often  for  the  poor.  According 
to  the  custom  of  the  times,  they  learned  to 
dress  wounds,  to  make  salves  and  ointments, 
to  distil  such  cordials  as  were  thought  medi- 
cinal ;  and  there  was  a  room  set  apart  for  these 
things.  They  freely  gave  away  their  reme- 
dies among  the  poor,  and  kept  a  kind  of  Dis- 
pensary, which  cost  something  considerable 
every  year,  and  was  much  frequented  by  the 
country  people.  They  put  in  practice  their 
healing  art  by  attending  to  the  wounds  of  the 
neighbouring  poor.  Mr.  Ferrar  wisely  pro- 
hibited any  regular  prescription.  Though 
lie  had  paid  some  attention  to  the  science 
when  he  was  in  Italy,  yet  he  never  ven- 
tured upon  practice,  and  forbade  his  family 
to  tamper  or  meddle  with  it.  These  young 
women  were  instructed  to  use  all  proper 
means  for  the  instruction,  conversion,  and 
comfort  of  the  sick  whom  they  visited.  In 
domestic  affairs,  the  four  nieces  took  turns  as 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR.  59 

managers.  Each  superintended  the  family- 
affairs  for  a  month  at  a  time  ;  and  this  was  ra- 
ther a  recreation  than  a  task.  They  were  re- 
quired to  keep  an  accurate  account  of  all  the 
weekly  expenditures,  allowing  every  small 
matter  its  column  in  their  books  ;  and  by  this 
means  they  became  good  accountants  and 
thrifty  managers.  The  land  was  let  out  upon 
shares  to  tenants^  who  by  agreement  were  to 
serve  the  family  with  provisions  at  a  uniform 
rate  ;  and  their  fare  was  frugal,  yet  with  va- 
riety enough  to  suit  every  one's  health  and 
constitution. 

Such  was  the  uniformity  observed  in  Mr. 
Ferrar's  family,  that  the  history  of  one  week 
would  be  the  history  of  the  whole  year.  To 
begin  with  the  first  day  of  the  week  ;  on  the 
Lord's-day,  they  rose,  as  on  other  days,  about 
five  o'clock  in  winter,  and  about  four  in  sum- 
mer. The  good  old  mother  was  up  betimes 
with  the  rest.  After  having,  on  their  bended 
knees,  in  their  several  apartments,  given  God 
thanks  for  the  night's  preservation,  they  came 
one  after  another  into  the  great  chamber, 
which  was  furnished  with  a  handsome  suit 
of  hangings,  and  in  winter  provided  with 


60 


THE  LIFE  OF 


a  good  fire.  There  they  never  failed  to  find 
their  protector  and  friend  before  them.  The 
younger  children  repeated  to  him  the  chap- 
ters and  psalms  which  they  had  committed  to 
memory.  This  exercise  lasted  until  about 
seven  o'clock,  after  which  they  retired  to  their 
private  rooms  for  two  hours. 

At  nine  o'clock  the  bell  rang  to  call  them 
to  prayers  in  the  church.  The  household 
met  in  the  great  chamber,  where  a  hymn  was 
sung,  accompanied  with  the  organ.  They 
thence  walked  to  the  church,  in  regular  order, 
two  and  two,  according  to  their  age  and 
standing.  The  three  schoolmasters  led  the 
way,  the  youths  followed  ;  this  good  son  led 
his  aged  mother,  his  two  brothers  going  before 
her,  and  all  the  children  after  her.  Then  fol- 
lowed the  servants,  making  in  all  a  very  so- 
lemn procession.  At  the  church  Mr.  Fer- 
rar  officiated  in  divine  service.  Upon  return- 
ing home,  his  elder  nieces,  and  some  others 
appointed  for  that  duty,  sat  in  a  gallery,  if  it 
were  summer,  or,  if  it  were  winter,  in  their 
large  room  by  the  fire,  and  heard  the  children 
repeat  the  psalms  which  they  had  learned  the 
week  before.    This  was,^  in  truth,  a  Sunday* 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR.  61 

SCHOOL,  though  the  name  was  not  then 
known,  as  it  was  more  than  a  hmidred  and 
fifty  years  before  Sunday-schools  were  insti- 
tuted. Mr.  Ferrar  was  greatly  desirous  that 
the  whole  vicinity  should  receive  profit  from 
his  family  ;  he  therefore  gave  notice  that 
such  of  the  neighbouring  children  as  chose  to 
appear  tliere  upon  Sunday  morning  should 
receive  each  a  penny  for  every  one  of  the 
Psalms  of  David  which  was  perfectly  com- 
mitted to  memory,  besides  their  Sunday  din- 
ner into  the  bargain.  A  Psalter  was  presented 
to  every  one  who  came.  There  were  some- 
times forty  or  fifty  children  gathered  at  one 
time ;  and  their  parents,  who  were  mostly 
plain  country  people,  were  extremely  pleased 
and  grateful. 

The  influence  of  this  Sunday-school  was 
such,  that  the  neighbouring  ministers  declared 
a  mighty  change  was  wrought,  not  only  upon 
the  children,  but  on  the  men  and  women  at 
home.  For  the  parents  would  naturally  hear 
their  children  repeating  their  sacred  lessons  ; 
whereas,  heretofore,  their  tongues  had  been 
exercised  in  singing  lewd  or  profane  songs, 
or  at  least  idle  ballads.  Now  the  streets  and 
F 


62 


THE  LIFE  OF 


doors  resounded  with  the  sacred  poetry  of 
David's  harp.  Thus  it  is  that  children,  in  a 
multitude  of  instances,  become  the  instructers 
of  their  parents  ;  and  this  is  one  of  the  great- 
est encouragements  which  we  have  in  the 
work  of  Sunday-schools.  If  the  minds  of 
children  are  stored  with  the  blessed,  glorious 
truths  of  the  Scriptures,  we  may  hope  that 
they  will  grow  up  to  be  admirers  and  practi- 
sers  of  all  that  is  good.  There  were  some 
parents  in  the  other  parishes,  who  entreated 
that  their  children  might  also  be  taught  the 
catechism.  Such,  however,  was  Mr.  Fer- 
rar's  love  of  order,  that  he  utterly  refused 
this ;  telling  them  that  the  instruction  in 
the  Bible  was  a  thing  by  itself,  but  that  cate- 
chising was  the  business  of  their  parents,  and 
of  their  own  minister.  He  informed  them 
that  "  in  doing  some  things  good  in  appear- 
ance, one  might  do  very  ill,  by  encroaching 
on  other  men's  offices  ;"  a  maxim  which  it 
would  be  well  for  every  reader  to  treasure  up. 
He  bade  them  have  a  special  care  of  this 
well-baited  and  hidden  snare,  which  the  devil 
everywhere  cunningly  lays  in  the  way  of  well- 
meaning  people.    When  he  cannot  persuade 


NICHOLAS   FERRAR.  63 

them  to  foul,  known  sin,  he  tempts  them  to  do 
something  good  in  itself,  but  which  it  is  pre- 
sumption in  them  to  attempt.  The  children 
not  only  repeated  what  they  had  learned  that 
Aveek,  and  had  for  every  psalm  a  penny,  but 
some  of  them  recited  a  part  of  what  they  had 
formerly  learned,  in  order  to  fix  these  incom- 
parable devotions  in  their  memories. 

At  half  after  ten,  the  minister  of  Steeple- 
Gidding,  the  adjoining  parish,  came  with  his 
own  people.  They  were  few  in  number,  and 
mostly  Mr.  Ferrar's  tenants.  The  bell  rang 
again,  and  the  whole  family,  with  the  Psalm- 
children,  as  they  were  called,  met  their  neigh- 
bours, and  took  their  several  places.  Mr.  Fer- 
rar  went  up  into  the  chancel,  and  read  the 
second  service  at  the  communion-table  ;  after 
w^hich  the  neighbouring  clergyman  preached. 
Returning  in  the  same  order  as  before  to  the 
house,  they  found  a  number  of  long,  narrow 
tables  ready  spread  upon  trestles,  or  movea- 
ble frames.  The  children  arranged  them- 
selves on  each  side  of  the  tables.  Old  Mrs. 
Ferrar,  who  esteemed  it  an  honour  to  imitate 
the  Saviour  in  serving  the  poor,  often  set  the 
first  dish  upon  the  table  with  her  own  hands. 


64 


THE  LIFE  OF 


When  the  blessing  of  God  had  been  asked 
upon  their  food,  the  children  proceeded  to 
take  their  meal  standing.  Their  pence  had 
already  been  given  them  for  their  Sunday  les- 
sons, and  they  were  kept  in  order  by  a  suita- 
ble person  left  for  that  purpose. 

After  this  the  bell  was  rung  for  the  family 
dinner.  It  was  a  principle  in  the  house- 
hold that  every  thing  should  be  sweetened  by 
religion,  and  while  they  all  stood  in  the  great 
dining  room,  a  hymn  was  sung  by  them,  ac- 
companied with  the  organ.  While  they  were 
receiving  nourishment  for  their  bodies,  one, 
whose  turn  it  was,  read  a  chapter  in  the  Bible, 
that  their  hearts  might  at  the  same  time  have 
spiritual  food.  This  was  very  much  the  cus- 
tom of  Christians  in  former  times,  and  in 
large  families  it  might  still  be  practised  with 
great  advantage,  especially  upon  the  Lord's- 
day.  It  would  prevent  much  vain  and  use- 
less conversation.  After  dinner  every  one  had 
liberty  to  go  where  he  pleased,  either  into 
the  fresh  air,  or  their  respective  retirements. 
About  two  o'clock  the  bell  called  them  to-- 
gether  again,  and  they  all  went  to  Steeple- 
Gidding  church,  to  attend  the  evening  service. 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR.  65 

Upon  their  return,  they  assembled  in  the  great 
chamber,  where  they  all  said,  at  one  time,  the 
psalms  which  on  other  days  they  said  at  dif- 
ferent stated  hours.  They  were  then  free 
until  supper,  which  was  about  six  o'clock. 
The  organ  began  to  play  as  they  came  into  the 
parlour ;  they  sang  an  anthem  while  the  food 
was  brought  upon  the  table.  After  God's 
blessing  had  been  craved,  one  read  a  chapter 
of  the  Bible,  and  another  read  some  instruc- 
tive narrative  from  the  Book  of  Martyrs,  or 
other  useful  works.  In  summer  time,  after 
supper,  most  of  them  took  the  air  out  of  doors ; 
in  winter  they  repaired  to  their  private  apart- 
ments. The  elder  members  of  the  family 
often  spent  this  time  in  serious  conversation. 
At  eight  o'clock  they  were  once  more  sum- 
moned by  the  bell  to  their  place  of  prayer. 
The  service  commenced  with  the  singing  of 
an  anthem ;  and  after  prayers,  they  bade  each 
other  good  night.  The  young  people  retired 
to  their  beds,  and  the  elder  ones  to  their  clo- 
sets. It  was  a  rule  of  the  family  that  after 
prayers  no  one  should  go  up  and  down  the 
house ;  every  one  was  required  to  keep  his 
own  room. 

f2 


60  THE  LIFE  OF 

Such  was  the  Sabbath  at  Little- Gidding. 

Whatever  may  be  thought  of  the  wisdom  dis- 
played in  their  arrangement  of  time,  all  must 
agree  that  a  beautiful  order  and  decorum,  as 
well  as  diligence  and  piety,  shine  in  the  whole 
plan.  There  is  always  danger  lest  such 
methods  should  generate  an  empty  formality, 
but  this  may  be  said  of  the  best  services  which 
are  known  among  men.  It  is  pleasing  to  ob- 
serve such  attention  to  this  holy  day  at  a  time 
when  the  loyalists  of  England  commonly  ob- 
served it  as  a  season  of  merriment.  It  was 
but  eight  years  before  Mr.  Ferrar's  settle- 
ment at  Gidding,  that  James  had  issued  his 
proclamation  against  the  strict  observance  of 
the  Sabbath,  and  eight  years  after  that  Charles 
I.  made  a  similar  proclamation,  encouraging 
sports  on  the  Lord's-day.  Mr.  Ferrar's  own 
words,  though  somewhat  ancient  in  style,  de- 
serve to  be  here  quoted,  with  regard  to  the 
Sabbath.  "It  is  a  day  of  rest,  not  of  plea- 
sures. It  frees  us  from  bodily  labours,  but  it 
should  more  intend  the  exercises  of  the  mind. 
God  blessed  the  day  and  sanctified  it ;  they 
must  both  go  together.  If  we  would  have  it 
happy,  we  must  make  it  holy ;  and  that  can 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR.  67 

be  by  nothing  better  done  than  by  taking  a 
survey  of  all  God's  works,  according  to  the 
two  divisions  of  heaven  and  earth,  whereunto 
he  hath  reduced  all  sorts  of  generations.  And 
if  it  seem  too  long  and  hard  a  matter  to  go 
through  all,  we  need  but  return  to  ourselves, 
where  we  shall  find  an  epitome  of  all." 

Upon  the  first  Lord's-day  of  every  month, 
and  also  upon  the  festivals  of  the  English 
church,  they  always  celebrated  the  Lord's 
Supper.  On  the  Saturday  preceding  these 
solemn  occasions,  Mr.  Ferrar  employed  him- 
self in  explaining  this  sacred  ordinance  to  the 
younger  members  of  the  family,  and  in  exhort- 
ing the  elder,  and  preparing  all  for  the  ap- 
proach to  the  holy  communion.  On  these 
days  the  servants  who  had  sat  down  with 
them  at  the  Lord's  table,  were  not  thought 
unworthy  to  dine  in  the  parlour  with  them. 
It  was  their  custom  to  sit  at  the  lower  end 
of  the  high  table  where  they  dined  that  day. 


68 


THE   LIFE  OF 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Daily  Employments  and  Devotions  at  Little-Gidding — 
Inscription — Vigils,  or  Watch-nights. 

The  little  community  at  Gidding  were  not 
less  regular  upon  other  days  of  the  week. 
Believing  that  method  is  the  half  of  business, 
they  observed  a  strict  and  constant  order  in 
all  their  employments.  If  they  erred,  it  was 
upon  the  extreme  of  system  and  formality, 
and  the  world  is  now  so  little  inclined  to  ex- 
travagance of  this  kind,  that  their  example  is 
not  likely  to  be  injurious. 

They  arose  as  early  as  on  the  Sabbath.  It 
was  expected  that  every  one  should  engage  in 
secret  prayer  before  he  left  his  private  apart- 
ment. This  it  is  which  seasons  the  whole 
succeeding  hours  of  a  Christian  day.  Their 
first  meeting  was  in  the  great  chamber  already 
mentioned.  Here  the  younger  nephews  and 
nieces  repeated  to  Mr.  Ferrar  those  parts  of 
the  Holy  Scriptures  which  they  had  lately  been 


NICHOLAS   K  E  R  R  A  R. 


69 


learning.  After  this  they  retired  for  a  time  to 
their  closets.  At  six  o'clock  the  bell  rang, 
and  they  assembled  aggin  in  the  common 
hall.  Here  a  certain  numiber  of  them  began 
reading  alternately,  verse  by  verse,  the  Psalms 
appointed  for  that  hour.  It  was  a  singular 
rule  of  the  house,  that  the  whole  book  of 
Psalms  should  be  devoutly  read  over  in  this 
manner,  once  in  the  twenty-four  hours.  They 
were  divided  into  companies  for  this  purpose, 
and  each  company  knew  its  time  and  portion. 
It  seems  likely  that  Mr.  Ferrar  borrowed  this 
custom  from  what  he  had  observed  among  the 
papists  upon  the  continent,  where  it  is  very 
common  in  monasteries  to  read  or  chant  over 
the  whole  Psalter  every  day.  It  is  much  to 
be  questioned  whether  this  was  a  judicious 
arrangement.  There  was  manifest  danger  of 
its  degenerating,  especially  with  the  young, 
into  a  mere  formality.  It  tied  up  the  family 
too  strictly  to  the  observance  of  every  hour, 
when  some  liberty  might  have  been  advanta- 
geous. With  all  our  veneration  for  the  book 
of  Psalms,  we  think  the  attention  thus  be- 
stowed upon  it  inordinate.  The  time  spent 
in  reading  over  this  single  book,  three  hundred 


70 


THE   LIFE  OF 


and  sixty-five  times  in  the  year,  might  have 
been  more  profitably  employed  upon  other 
portions  of  the  word  of  God.  And  there  is 
something  which  is^  not  unlike  superstition  in 
the  stress  laid  upon  the  repetition,  every  hour, 
even  of  inspired  compositions. 

Immediately  after  this,  one  of  the  company 
repeated  from  memory  a  chapter  or  section 
from  a  Harmony  of  the  four  evangelists,  of 
which  more  shall  be  said  in  the  sequel.  This 
book  was  so  divided,  and  the  various  parts  so 
allotted,  that  the  gospel  history  was  repeated 
once  every  month.  A  short  hymn,  accompa- 
nied by  the  organ,  was  sung  every  hour.  It 
was  commonly  something  like  the  following : 

So  angels  sing,  and  so  sing  we, 
To  God  on  high  all  glory  be  : 
Let  him  on  earth  his  peace  bestow, 
And  unto  men  his  favour  show. 

These  services,  which  were  conducted  with 
great  solemnity,  were  so  adjusted  that  the 
psalms,  prayers,  and  repetitions  occupied  only 
a  quarter  of  an  hour. 

After  this  they  proceeded,  as  on  the  Lord's- 
day,  to  prayers  in  the  church,  when  Mr.  Fer- 
rar  officiated.     By  this  time  it  was  seven 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR. 


71 


o'clock,  at  which  hour  the  second  company 
proceeded  with  the  Psalms  and  other  exer- 
cises, in  the  manner  which  has  been  described. 
The  children  then  went  to  breakfast,  and  after- 
wards to  the  school-house,  with  their  respec- 
tive teachers.  Old  Mrs.  Ferrar,  from  her 
chair,  inspected  her  daughters  and  grandchild- 
ren, like  olive-branches  round  her  table.  The 
latter  sat  at  their  books  or  work  in  great  si- 
lence ;  or  when  there  was  any  conversation, 
they  were  required  to  avoid  "  vain  talking, 
and  jesting,  which  are  not  convenient." 
Every  hour  had  its  allotted  business,  for  their 
careful  guardian  used  to  maintain  that  this 
was  the  only  way  to  effect  great  things  "with 
ease  and  pleasure.  This  he  therefore  en- 
joined upon  them,  even  in  their  spiritual 
exercises.  Some  spent  their  time  in  preparing 
the  Scripture  Harmony,  or  getting  it  by  heart. 
Others  practised  vocal  and  instrumental  music. 
Writing  and  arithmetic  employed  some,  while 
others  were  engaged  in  manual  labour.  Mr. 
Ferrar  desired  that  every  one  who  was  willing 
should  be  taught  some  trade.  For  this  pur- 
pose he  had  in  the  house  the  daughter  of  a 


72 


THE   LIFE  OF 


bookbinder  from  Cambridge,  who  instructed 
them  in  this  useful  mechanical  art. 

He  thought  it  very  important  that  they 
should  early  be  inured  to  profitable  labour ; 
and  used  to  put  them  in  mind  of  that  passage 
in  Psalm  cxxviii: — "Blessed  is  every  one 
that  feareth  the  Lord  ;  that  walketh  in  his 
ways ;  for  thou  shalt  eat  the  labour  of  thy 
hands.^^  *'  Whereas  (said  he)  the  world 
thinks  the  living  upon  rents,  and  other  men's 
labours,  to  be  their  honour  and  happiness  ; 
David  here  makes  the  contrary  an  effect  and 
sign  of  blessedness."  He  also  taught  them, 
that  while  labour  was  Adam's  punishment,  it 
also  carried  a  medicine  along  with  it,  to  cure 
him  of  sloth  and  luxury.  He  assured  them, 
that  to  concern  themselves  with  some  tempo- 
rary occupation  was  far  from  being  degrading, 
and  that  the  apostle  Paul  himself,  though  de- 
voted to  God's  service,  employed  himself  in 
tent-making. 

Every  hour  of  the  day  had  its  regular  reli- 
gious observance.  At  ten  o'clock,  there  was 
a  solemn  service  in  the  church ;  and  at  noon 
the  dinner  was  served  up.    While  all  things 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR.  73 

were  in  preparation,  a  hymn  was  sung  to  the 
organ,  and  after  they  had  taken  their  seats,  a 
youth,  whose  turn  it  was,  read  to  the  com- 
pany out  of  some  English  history.  They 
thought  silence  at  meals  unpleasant,  and  the 
ordinary  discourse  of  so  great  a  number  un- 
profitable. For  this  reason  they  were  accus- 
tomed to  have  something  read  aloud ;  such  as 
voyages  and  travels,  the  description  of  foreign 
countries,  and  narratives  of  an  entertaining 
and  instructive  kind.  This  not  only  refreshed, 
but  enriched  their  minds,  and  to  assist  their 
recollection,  a  summary  collection  was  kept 
of  all  the  most  remarkable  passages.  This 
was  arranged  by  one  of  the  schoolmasters, 
and  was  transcribed  by  the  scholars.  Imme- 
diately after  dinner,  a  repetition  was  made  of 
something  which  had  been  read  before  ;  that 
is,  one  of  the  boys  repeated  a  story,  selected 
for  him,  in  different  language  from  that  in 
which  it  had  first  been  presented.  This  gave 
the  young  people  a  familiarity  with  public 
speaking,  and  also  enabled  them  to  express 
themselves  well,  and  unaffectedly.  The  whole 
family  thus  became  versed  in  the  most  import- 
ant parts  of  history,  and  that  by  a  method 
G 


74 


THE  LIFE  OF 


which  rendered  it  rather  a  pleasure  than  s 
task. 

In  all  these  arrangements,  we  can  observe 
Mr.  Ferrar's  love  of  order,  his  diligence,  and 
his  piety.  There  is  much  to  be  commended, 
and  some  things  as  to  the  propriety  of  which 
we  may  safely  doubt.  Few  families  have  it 
in  their  power  to  observe  such  a  routine  ; 
fewer  still  have  the  zeal  or  patience  to  endure 
such  a  yoke.  We  are  far  from  giving  indis- 
criminate praise  to  all  that  we  record  as  his- 
tory, yet  we  give  even  these  minute  particu- 
lars, as  exemplifying  the  peculiarities  of  the 
man.  Their  singularities  naturally  excited 
attention,  and  drew  upon  them  some  censure ; 
and,  as  they  were  much  visited,  they  caused 
a  tablet  to  be  placed  in  a  conspicuous  part  of 
the  hall  where  they  entertained  strangers, 
with  the  following  inscription  ; 


He  that  by  reproof  of 
our  errors,  and  remon- 
strance  of  that  which  is  ^ 
more  perfect,  seeks  to 
make  us  better,  is  wel- 
come as  an  angel  of  God. 
But, 

He  that  any  way  goes 


He  that  by  a  cheerful 

participation  of  that  which 
is  good  confirms  us  in  the 
same,  is  welcome  as  a 
Christian  friend. 

But, 

He  that  censures  us  in 


TflCHOLAS  FERRAR. 


75 


about  to  disturb  us  in  that  absence  for  that  which  in 
which  is  and  ought  to  be  presence  he  made  a  show 
among  Chiistians,  though  -a  to  approve  of,  both  by  a 
it  be  not  usual  in  the  <  double  guilt  of  flattery  and 
world,  is  a  burden  while  slander,  violates  the  bond 
he  stays,  and  shall  bear  his  of  friendship  and  Christi- 
judgraent,  whosoever  he  anitj'. 
be. 

Mary  Ferrar,  widow,  mother  of  this  family,  aged  about 
80  years,  bids  adieu  to  all  fears  and  hopes  of  tliis  world, 
and  only  desires  to  serve  God. 

In  the  ancient  Christian  church,  there  is 
reason  to  think  that  whole  nights  were  some- 
times spent  in  devotion.  These  were  called 
Vigils ,  or  watchings.  Mr.  Ferrar  proposed 
to  such  of  his  family  as  chose  to  adopt  this 
practice,  to  set  apart  some  such  seasons, 
though  without  any  constraint.  He  found 
manj  willing  to  join  him  in  this.  There  are 
some  denominations  of  evangelical  Christians 
who  observe  this  at  the  present  day ;  and 
where  it  is  the  tribute  of  sincere  devotion,  and 
is  conducted  with  pious  decorum,  there  can 
be  no  blame  attached  to  it.  The  judicious 
commentator,  Thomas  Scott,  remarks  :  "If 
we  are  in  a  proper  frame  of  mind,  we  shall 
rather  abridge  ourselves  of  wonted  refresh- 


76  THELIFEOF 

ments  than  neglect  communion  with  God : 
nay,  there  may  be  urgent  cases,  when  even 
the  night  itself  does  not  seem  too  long  to  pour 
out  our  hearts  before  him." 

The  Vigil  began  about  nine  o'clock  at  night, 
and  was  continued  for  four  hours.  Those, 
however,  who  watched  did  not  undress  them- 
selves all  that  night,  but  lay  down  in  their 
clothes  from  one  till  six  in  the  morning. 
This  was  observed  in  separate  apartments, 
the  men  by  themselves,  and  the  women  by 
themselves.  The  two  who  watched  together 
repeated,  alternately,  all  the  Psalms  which 
they  had  not  recited  in  the  day.  These  holy 
compositions  they  used  as  their  form  of  prayer, 
devoutly  repeating  them  upon  their  knees.  At 
intervals,  such  as  could  play  and  sing  refresh- 
ed themselves  with  sacred  music.  As  soon 
as  their  watch  was  ended,  they  came  and 
knocked  at  Mr.  Ferrar's  room,  bidding  him 
good-morrow,  and  leaving  him  a  candle  light- 
ed at  his  door.  He  then  arose,  for  one  o'clock 
in  the  morning  was  the  hour  at  which  he  con- 
stantly began  his  prayers  and  meditations, 
when  it  was  not  his  own  turn  to  keep  watch. 
We  are  far  from  inviting  others  to  imitate 


?fICH0LA8FERRAR.  77" 

this  example  ;  yet  Mr.  Ferrar  was  not  singu- 
lar in  this.  The  martyr,  Hugh  Latimer,  even 
when  he  was  more  than  eighty  years  of  age, 
constantly  rose  at  two  o'clock.  And  the  cele- 
brated Thomas  Ken  strictly  accustomed  him- 
self to  but  one  sleep,  which  often  obliged  him 
to  rise  at  one  or  two  in  the  morning,  and 
sometimes  sooner :  this  continued  almost  till 
his  last  illness.  David  also  says,  "  At  mid- 
night I  will  rise  to  give  thanks  unto  thee, 
because  of  thy  righteous  judgments." — Ps. 
cxix.  62. 


THE  LIFE  OF 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Visiters — Domestic  Habits — Message  from  the  Queen 
— Scripture  Harmonies. 

There  was  nothing  austere  or  repulsive  in 
the  family  at  Little-Gidding.  They  encou- 
raged the  society  of  the  neighbouring  gentry, 
and  endeavoured  in  this  way  to  be  useful. 
Yet  they  seldom  made  excursions,  or  visits 
of  any  length.  When  they  first  entered  upon 
the  manor,  the  suspicion  of  the  plague  pre- 
vented much  intercourse  with  their  neigh- 
bours ;  and  when  this  fear  had  passed  away, 
it  had  become  generally  known  that  they 
wished  to  live  much  in  retirement.  Curi- 
osity led  many  persons  to  Little-Gidding, 
where  they  were  kindly  received,  and  treated 
with  all  hospitality.  A  glass  of  wine  or  a 
tankard  of  ale,  with  a  piece  of  cake,  was  of- 
fered to  all  decent  visiters.  Persons  of  qua- 
lity sometimes  lingered,  as  if  to  partake  of 
their  meals,  or  to  lodge  with  them.  No  invi- 
tation, however,  was  given;  and  it  was  not 


NICHOLAS    FERRAR.  79 

iheir  custom  to  entertain  strangers,  unless 
when  the  latter  were  really  in  need  of  their 
humane  attentions.  Indeed  had  they  done 
otherwise,  they  would  have  been  overbur- 
dened with  a  multitude  of  guests,  whom  they 
could  not,  with  any  civility,  have  avoided. 
There  were  instances  in  which  men  of  for- 
tune, from  a  strong  curiosity,  pretended  to 
lose  their  way,  and  leaving  their  servants  and 
equipage  at  the  neighbouring  village,  sought 
a  night's  lodging  at  Gidding.  Such  persons 
were  kindly  entertained.  As  the  mansion 
was  upon  a  high  road,  numbers  of  gentry  and 
clergy  were  accustomed  to  call  as  they  passed 
and  repassed. 

Mr.  Ferrar's  singular  manner  of  life  attract- 
ed the  attention  of  many  entire  strangers. 
Learned  persons  of  other  persuasions,  and 
even  Romish  priests,  sometimes  came  to  con- 
verse with  him,  and  to  discover  his  opinions. 
Towards  such  persons  he  had  no  reserve  in 
the  expression  of  his  sentiments.  Without 
inquiring  who  they  were,  he  always  enter- 
tained them  with  serenity  and  frankness,  and 
with  all  the  courtesy  which  was  due.  The 
nearest  neighbour  to  Mr.  Ferrar  was  a  Roman 


80 


THE  LIFE  OF 


Catholic  gentleman,  who  often  came  with  his 
lady  to  Gidding,  though  their  visits  were  not 
returned.  He  one  day  brought  with  him  three 
learned  priests,  one  of  whom  was  a  famous 
defender  of  the  Church  of  Rome.  They  were 
all  full  of  curiosity  to  examine  a  man  so 
much  noted  for  talents  and  devotion.  He 
freely  entered  into  controversy  with  them ; 
and  in  this  he  had  a  great  advantage,  because 
in  his  travels  he  had  seen  their  practices  with 
his  own  eyes,  and  had  made  it  his  special  bu- 
siness to  compare  the  lives  of  papists  with 
their  pretensions.  The  debate  was  spun  out 
to  a  great  length,  and  was  managed  on  both 
sides  with  good  temper.  Almost  every  point 
which  is  disputed  between  Roman  Catholics 
and  Protestants  was  brought  up,  and  they 
parted  in  an  amicable  manner.  One  of  the 
priests  afterwards  said  that  he  had  seen  Little- 
Gidding,  the  place  so  much  in  everybody's 
mouth,  and  that  he  found  the  master  of  the 
house  different  from  what  he  had  expected ;  a 
profound  and  solid  man,  of  wonderful  memory, 
keen  wit,  flowing  eloquence,  extensive  read- 
ing, and  great  experience. 

While  Mr.  Ferrar  was  most  conscientious 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR.  81 

in  the  disposal  of  his  time,  he  was  far  from 
being  morose  or  inaccessible.  He  gave  or- 
ders that  if  any  one  came  to  see  him,  even  if 
he  were  in  his  study,  he  should  be  called  ; 
for  he  hoped  that  they  came  either  for  his 
good  or  their  own.  The  whole  design  of  his 
life  was  to  make  himself  and  others  better. 
Few  ever  parted  with  him  without  satisfaction, 
and  we  are  told  of  some  who,  after  spending 
only  a  few  hours  in  that  happy  society,  carried 
away  with  them  a  lasting  fervour  of  devotion. 
When  strangers  came  to  the  house,  even 
though  of  a  different  persuasion,  they  were 
invited  to  accompany  the  family  to  the  place 
of  prayer,  and  their  hours  of  going  to  church 
were  never  altered  on  account  of  visiters. 
Sometimes  persons  came  from  a  mere  idle  cu- 
riosity. Such  took  the  liberty,  at  times,  of 
expostulating  with  Mr.  Ferrar  upon  his  re- 
tired and  severe  life,  and  recommended  a 
course  of  greater  recreation  and  pleasure. 
He  used  to  reply,  that  he  would  rather  not 
live  on  earth  an  hour  longer,  than  pursue  the 
method  which  the  world  calls  living  gene- 
rously, and  like  a  gentleman,  eating  and  drink- 
ing, keeping  irregular  hours,  having  time 


82  THE  LIFE  OF 

hanging  so  heavily  as  to  spend  much  of  it 
in  inventing  new  follies,  hunting,  hawking, 
cards,  and  dice. 

It  is  well  known  that  the  Queen  of  Great 
Britain  was  a  zealous  papist.  Charles  I.  had 
often  told  her  of  a  family  which,  without  any 
vows,  and  without  being  members  of  the  Ro- 
mish Church,  pursued  as  regular  and  devout  a 
life  as  was  known  in  the  strictest  monasteries. 
The  Queen  supposed  this  to  be  a  mere  plea- 
santry of  the  King,  and  determined  to  go  in 
person  and  inspect  the  establishment.  The 
cross-roads  of  the  country  happened,  how- 
ever, to  be  at  that  time  almost  impassable. 
She  therefore  contented  herself  with  sending 
a  trusty  messenger,  Mr.  Newton,  to  take  an  ex- 
act account  of  all  their  arrangements.  Upon 
his  return  she  expressed  great  regret  that  she 
had  not  made  the  journey  herself. 

A  still  more  notable  visit  was  made  to  Mr. 
Ferrar's  family  two  or  three  years  after  his 
decease,  when  the  civil  war  commenced  in 
England.  During  all  the  troubles  which  pre- 
ceded this  event,  he  had  remained  in  tranquil 
obscurity.  In  1642,  when  Charles  I.  was 
marching  into  the  north,  to  set  up  his  royal 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR.  83 

Standard  at  Nottingham,  he  was  told  that  he 
was  in  the  vicinity  of  Litile-Gidding.  Mis' 
guided  and  unfaithful  as  this  unfortunate  mo- 
narch was,  he  appears  to  have  had  a  kind  of 
reverence  for  consistent  piety.  He  struck  out 
of  his  way,  and  rode  directly  to  the  house  of 
the  Ferrars,  in  company  with  the  Prince  of 
Wales,  Prince  Rupert,  the  Duke  of  Rich- 
mond, and  many  other  of  the  cavaliers.  This 
Prince  Rupert  was  the  son  of  the  unfortunate 
Palatine  whose  bride  Mr.  Ferrar  had  accom- 
panied to  Holland  more  than  twenty  years  be- 
fore. Upon  the  commencement  of  hostilities 
between  the  King  and  parliament,  he  had  come 
over  with  his  brother,  Prince  Maurice,  and  en- 
listed under  the  royal  banner.  The  King  took 
a  view  of  every  thing  with  a  curious  eye,  and, 
in  the  midst  of  his  own  perplexed  affairs, 
spent  a  good  deal  of  time  in  reading  their  Har- 
monies of  the  Bible.  The  princes  and  gen- 
tlemen, in  the  mean  time,  received  such  re- 
freshment as  the  house  afforded. 

This  is  a  proper  place  to  give  some  account 
of  the  Scripture  Harmonies,  to  which  some 
allusion  has  been  made.  The  first  of  these 
was  called  a  Concordance.  Concordances  have 


B4  THE  LIFE  OF 

been  formed  upon  various  methods.  The 
most  common  is  that  of  a  dictionary,  in  which 
any  verse  may  be  found  by  seeking  for  some 
principal  word  in  it.  The  first  of  this  kind 
was  made  in  Latin,  by  Cardinal  Hugo,  who 
flourished  about  the  year  1240,  and  died  in 
1262.  It  was  he  who  first  divided  both  the 
Old  and  New  Testaments  into  chapters,  as  we 
now  have  them  ;  and  these  he  subdivided  into 
smaller  portions,  which  he  distinguished  by 
the  letters  A,  B,  C,  D,  E,  F,  G,  placed  at 
equal  distances  from  each  other  according  to 
the  length  of  the  chapters.  The  facility  of 
reference  thus  afforded  by  Hugo's  divisions 
and  concordance  having  become  known  to 
Mordecai  Nathan,  a  celebrated  Jewish  Rabbi, 
in  the  fifteenth  century,  he  undertook  a  simi- 
lar concordance  to  the  Hebrew  Scriptures, 
and  marked  every  fifth  verse  with  a  Hebrew 
letter.  The  numerals  were  afiixed  to  the 
other  verses  in  the  Hebrew  Bible  by  Athias, 
a  Jew  of  Amsterdam,  about  1663.  The  di- 
vision of  the  New  Testament  into  verses  was 
first  made  by  Robert  Stephens,  in  1551,  and 
for  the  same  purpose  of  reference  in  a  Con- 
cordance. 


NICHOLAS   FERRAR.  85 

The  Concordance  made  by  Mr.  Ferrar  was 
what  we  should  now  call  a  Harmony  of  the 
Gospels:  indeed,  both  words  have  originally 
the  same  signification.  The  book  was  divi- 
ded into  a  hundred  and  forty  heads,  and  was 
a  digest,  or  arrangement  of  the  history  of 
Christ.  An  hour  every  day  was  spent  in 
planning  it,  and  the  young  ladies  did  the 
work,  by  cutting  out  from  each  evangelist  the 
passages  selected,  and  laying  them  together 
so  as  to  complete  each  head  or  chapter.  After 
cutting  out  these  pieces  with  their  knives  or 
scissors,  they  neatly  and  exactly  pasted  them 
upon  sheets  of  paper.  This  was  done  so 
dextrously  as  to  resemble  printing,  and  none 
who  saw  the  book  for  the  first  time  detected 
the  art.  The  whole,  after  being  pasted,  was 
passed  through  a  heavy  press,  which  rendered 
it  smooth  and  even.  It  was  entided  :  "  The 
Actions,  Doctrines,  and  other  Passages  touching 
our  blessed  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  as 
they  are  related  by  the  four  Evangelists,  re- 
duced into  one  complete  body  of  history  ; 
wherein  that  which  is  severally  related  by 
them,  is  digested  into  order,  and  that  which 
is  jointly  related  by  all  or  any  of  them,  is  ex- 


86 


THE  LIFE  OF 


pressed  in  their  own  words,  by  way  of  com- 
parison :  Secondly,  brought  into  one  narra- 
tion by  way  of  composition  :  Thirdly,  extract- 
ed into  one  clear  context  by  way  of  collec- 
tion :  yet  so,  as  whatsoever  was  omitted  in 
the  context  is  enacted  by  way  of  supplement  in 
another  print,  and  in  such  a  manner,  as  all  the 
four  Evangelists  may  easily  be  read  severally 
and  distinctly  by  each  apart,  and  alone  from 
first  to  last,  and  in  each  page  throughout  the 
book  are  sundry  pictures  added,  expressing 
either  the  facts  themselves  or  their  types  and 
figures,  or  other  things  appertaining  thereunto ; 
the  book  is  divided  into  an  hundred  and  forty 
heads." 

Many  hands  were  engaged  upon  this  labour, 
and  even  old  Mrs.  Ferrar  lent  a  hand  to  com- 
plete it.  It  was  much  spoken  of  abroad,  and 
an  account  of  it  was  even  taken  to  court.  Upon 
a  certain  occasion,  when  some  extraordinary 
business  had  taken  Mr.  Ferrar  to  London,  it 
happened  that  Charles  I.  lodged  at  Apthorpe, 
seven  miles  from  Little-Gidding.  He  des- 
patched one  of  his  attendants  thither,  to  en- 
treat a  sight  of  this  Concordance,  which  he 
heard  was  a  great  rarity,  promising  to  send  it 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR.  87 

back  before  many  days  after  he  should  have  pe- 
rused it.  The  family  were  in  some  perplexity, 
but,  after  consultation,  determined  that  his  ma- 
jesty's pleasure  ought  to  be  readily  obeyed ;  es- 
pecially as  the  gentleman  protested,  that  if  they 
did  not  send  it  then,  he  knew  the  king  would 
send  for  it  again  before  he  slept.  It  was 
accordingly  sent.  Instead  of  a  few  days,  it 
was  kept  several  months.  The  same  gentle- 
man was  sent  back  with  it  from  London  to 
Gidding.  He  carried  to  them  the  king's 
hearty  thanks  for  lending  him  the  book,  which 
in  his  opinion  was  highly  to  their  honour, 
and  much  beyond  his  expectations.  He  beg- 
ged them  to  excuse  his  delay,  and  also  the 
notes  which  he  .had  pencilled  in  the  margin. 
The  messenger  affirmed,  that  Charles  had 
read  in  it  daily  ;  and  requested,  in  the  king's 
name,  that  they  would  prepare  him  a  similar 
volume  for  his  own  use. 

The  ladies  of  the  family  set  about  this  new 
labour  with  great  care,  and  finished  it  in  about 
a  year's  time.  It  was  bound  by  their  own 
hands,  in  a  peculiar  and  elegant  manner.  The 
volume  was  presented  to  the  king  by  the 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  Dr.  Cosins, 


88 


THE  LIFE  OF 


Master  of  Peter-House,  Cambridge.  It  was 
greatly  admired  for  its  external  elegance,  as 
well  for  the  judgment  with  which  it  had  been 
compiled  ;  and  Charles  said,  with  justice,  that 
*' it  was  a  present  for  the  greatest  king  upon 
earth."  And  then,  turning  to  the  Archbishop, 
he  said :  "  What  think  you,  my  lord,  shall  I 
obtain  a  second  favour  from  these  good  people  ? 
I  have  another  suit  to  them ;  the  matter  is  this  : 
I  have  often  read  over  the  lives  and  actions 
of  the  kings  of  Judah  and  Israel,  in  the  Books 
of  Kings  and  Chronicles,  that  the  latter  was 
a  supplement  to  the  former  ;  and  I  find  some 
difficulty  in  reconciling  them  together.  I 
should  desire  that  these  good  people  should 
make  me  such  a  book,  as  would  bring  these 
two  books  into  one  full  and  perfect  history, 
and  yet  so  as  I  may  at  the  same  time  see  them 
each  several  and  apart  to  be  read.  They  will 
easily  understand  my  mind,  I  know.  Will 
you  let  them  know  my  pleasure  ?" 

The  king  was  assured  that  it  should  be  done. 
The  request  was  sent  to  Gidding,  and  afforded 
them  work  for  another  year.  The  book  was 
bound  in  purple  velvet,  richly  gilt,  and  was 
put  into  the  king's  own  hands  by  Mr.  John 


NICHOLAS    FERRAR.  89 

Ferrar.  "  This  book,"  said  he,  "  in  all  kinds 
far  surpasses  my  hopes,  and  is  done  in  a  far 
more  excellent  way  of  composure  than  I  con- 
ceived it  could  have  been ;  I  shall  make  it  my 
companion.  Herein  I  shall  behold  God's  in- 
finite mercies,  and  his  just  judgments  ;  his  re- 
wards of  the  good  kings,  his  punishing  of  the 
evil  kings,  his  promises  and  his  threatenings 
surely  accomplished  ;  nov/  I  must  needs  say 
I  have  gained  a  second  treasure.  Their  care, 
their  skill,  and  their  cost  hath  been  superla- 
tive, and  so  let  them  know  my  esteem  of  it." 
It  had  been  well  for  Charles  if  he  had  kept 
his  word,  and  thus  profited  by  instruction ; 
but  he  had  already  imitated  the  folly  of  Re- 
hoboam,  and  was  soon  to  experience  a  greater 
fall.  This  very  volume  is  said  to  be  preserv- 
ed to  this  day,  in  the  library  of  St.  John's 
College,  Oxford. 


h2 


00 


ThE   LIFE  OF 


CH  A.PTER  IX. 

Self-denial  of  Mr.  Ferrar — Characteristic  Anecdotes. 

There  is  reason  to  believe  that  Mr.  Ferrar 
attached  too  much  importance  to  mortification 
of  the  body.  He  accustomed  himself,  at 
length,  to  spend  eighteen  hours  out  of  the 
twenty-four,  in  study,  labour,  or  devotion.  In 
the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  seldom  sat  by  a 
fire,  and  scarcely  ever  sat  at  all  in  his  study. 
He  usually  paced  the  floor,  or  stood  at  a  desk, 
and  some  of  his  v.'ritings  he  is  said  to  have 
penned  upon  his  knees.  While  his  good 
mother  was  alive,  she  endeavoured  to  abate 
his  rigour  in  watching.  He  assured  her  that 
while  it  profited  his  soul,  it  did  his  body  no 
harm,  and  that  his  constitution  was  more  in- 
jured by  excess  in  sleeping  or  eating  than  by 
any  thing  else.  After  his  mother's  death  he 
seldom  went  to  bed  oftener  than  once  a  week, 
but  lay  upon  the  floor,  wrapped  in  a  frieze 
gown,  with  a  bear's  skin  under  him.    Yet  he 


NICHOLAS   FERRAR.  91 

felt  no  decay  of  his  strength  for  the  last  seven 
years  of  his  life. 

From  Avhat  has  been  said  it  will  be  seen 
that  he  was  not  a  volatile  or  unstable  man, 
yet  he  thought  he  found  great  advantage,  both 
to  body  and  mind,  in  varying  his  pursuits,  and 
never  continuing  in  any  study  or  employment 
so  long  as  to  make  it  wearisome.  The  most 
salutary  rest  is  sometimes  a  change  of  occu- 
pation. 

For  the  entertainment  of  the  family  he  com- 
posed dialogues  and  scenes,  of  a  sacred  and 
moral  kind ;  the  characters  of  which  were 
sustained  by  the  younger  inmates.  By  these 
means  he  wished  to  draw  them  off  from 
Christmas  games,  and  wilder  sports,  w-hich 
make  way  for  riot  and  extravagance.  The 
latter  he  called  carnal  excesses.  "  Though 
the  heart,  (said  he)  and  the  flesh  too,  should 
rejoice,  as  David  says,  yet  we  must  not  for- 
get w^hat  follows, — it  is  in  the  living  God  that 
mirth  and  jubilee  are  to  be  exercised :  the  al- 
lowance of  better  cheer  on  festival  seasons 
must  be  only  so  far  as  may  serve  to  the  in- 
crease of  your  ascending  joys."  On  such  oc- 
casions these  dialogues,  founded  upon  passages 


92 


THE  LIFE  OF 


in  history,  were  pronounced.  They  fill  two 
or  three  large  folio  volumes,  and  though  they 
are  not  suitable  for  publication,  are  elegant, 
ingenious,  and  profitable. 

When  Mr.  Ferrar  was  applied  to  for  his 
counsel,  as  was  frequently  the  case,  it  was 
his  manner  to  write  down  briefly  the  sub- 
stance of  what  was  proposed  :  he  would  then 
set  down  his  answer,  his  advice,  and  the  rea- 
sons of  it.  Such  shorl  notes,  he  found  by  ex- 
perience, were  more  useful  than  verbal  com- 
munications ;  and  there  was  less  room  for 
mistake.  His  correspondence  was  extensive, 
and  he  kept  a  copy  of  every  important  letter 
which  he  wrote.  In  this  way  he  did  much 
good,  and  made  his  letters  the  means  of  con- 
veying religious  truth.  He  used  to  say  that 
religion  was  diff'usive  ;  that  our  Saviour's  pro- 
verb was.  It  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to 
receive  ;  but  the  devil's  proverb  was  (as  com- 
monly understood).  Charity  begins  at  home. 
Accordingly  he  was  a  charitable  householder. 
Besides  the  alms  occasionally  given  at  the 
dt>or,  to  such  as  were  really  in  need,  there 
was  a  certain  amount  distributed  every  day 
among  the  poor  of  the  towns  around  the 


NICHOLAS   FERRAR.  93 

manor.  They  were  admitted  into  a  lower 
room,  where  ]Mr.  Ferrar  was  usually  present, 
to  see  their  wants  relieved,  to  inquire  who 
were  sick,  and  to  give  spiritual  counsel. 

It  is  a  ditlicult  thing  to  be  a  "  wise  re- 
prover." Mr.  Ferrar  possessed  this  happy 
talent  in  a  remarkable  degree.  He  was  ac- 
customed to  relate  some  pointed  anecdote, 
w^hich  might  convey  a  rebuke  to  the  con- 
science of  such  as  did  wrong.  Sometimes  he 
gave  his  best  counsels  when  he  seemed  to  be 
only  asking  advice.  He  made  it  a  principal 
study  to  learn  how  to  deal  with  wounded 
consciences.  As  he  had  been  much  tempted 
in  his  early  days,  he  was  able  to  assist  those 
who  were  distressed  in  their  minds.  While 
he  was  in  Italy,  a  young  Englishman  fled 
thither,  who  had  murdered  another  in  a  duel. 
He  was  noticed  at  Padua,  as  a  man  despe- 
rately melancholy.  It  so  happened  that  he 
fell  into  the  company  of  Mr.  Ferrar,  and  found 
"him  so  kind,  that  he  confessed  to  him  his 
crime,  and  his  remorse.  He  seemed  to  be 
hroken-hearted,  and  truly  penitent  for  his 
atrocious  transgression.  Mr.  Ferrar  assured 
him  that  the  mercies  of  God  reached  even  to 


94 


THE   LIFE  OF 


his  case,  dreadful  as  it  was,  and  succeeded  in 
leading  him  to  the  hope  of  the  gospel.  The 
young  man  appeared  never  to  be  satisfied,  ex- 
cept in  the  company  of  this  good  instructer, 
whom  he  ever  afterwards  esteemed  above  all 
the  world. 

He  spent  much  of  his  time  in  writing  pray- 
ers, meditations,  and  other  devotional  com- 
positions ;  and  employed  one  of  his  nephews 
in  translating  a  work  of  this  kind  from  the 
Italian.  As  we  have  seen,  he  used  all  his  in- 
fluence to  lead  every  one  around  him  to  com- 
mit to  memory  large  portions  of  Scripture, 
especially  the  Psalms  and  the  Gospels.  He 
used  to  hire  poor  people,  both  young  and  old, 
to  do  this,  in  order  to  win  them  over  from  their 
vain  thoughts  and  pursuits ;  and  that  these 
holy  words  might  afford  them  subjects  for 
conversation,  without  hindering  their  daily 
labours.  He  told  them  that  this  was  as  need- 
ful for  their  souls  as  food  for  their  bodies. 
*'  Who  knows  (said  he)  what  may  be  our 
condition  before  we  die  ?  We  may  be  blind ; 
we  may  be  in  prison  ;  we  may  be  travelling, 
where  we  can  use  no  books.  And  no  one  can 
Jknow,  till  he  has  tried  as  I  have,  the  comfort 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR. 


95 


and  benefit  he  may  derive  from  such  a  treasure 
in  his  heart." 

Such  was  the  singular  character  and  extra- 
ordinary life  of  Nicholas  Ferrar.  As  we  should 
suppose  beforehand,  many  persons  misunder- 
stood and  misrepresented  him.  The  little 
establishment  at  Gidding  was  called  a  monas- 
tery, and  he  was  denounced  as  a  Papist.  This 
was  altogether  unjust.  We  do  not  recom- 
mend the  rules  of  his  family,  because  we  find 
from  the  history  of  the  Church,  that  just  in 
this  way  well-meaning  and  devout  men  laid 
the  foundation  of  monkery.  In  the  fourth 
century,  St.  Anthony  and  others  retired  from 
the  world,  and  gave  themselves  up  to  the  ser- 
vice of  God.  They  may  have  had  good  mo- 
tives, but  those  who  followed  their  example 
fell  into  gi-eat  abuses.  The  deserts  of  Egypt 
became  peopled  with  solitary  monks.  In  a 
short  time  the  Church  was  overrun  with  mul- 
titudes of  idle  mortals,  who  abandoned  all  hu- 
man connexions,  advantages,  pleasures,  and 
concerns,  and  languished  in  seeming  piety, 
while  they  did  the  world  no  good. 

But  the  family  at  Little-Gidding  was  not  a 
monastery.    For,  first,  in  monasteries  per- 


96  THELIFEOF 

sons  are  gathered  together  without  family 
connexion  ;  in  this  family,  they  were  naturally 
bound  to  one  another  as  relatives.  Secondly, 
in  monasteries  all  the  inmates  are  of  one  sex  ; 
in  this  family  both  sexes  lived  together  in  pu- 
rity and  affection.  Thirdly,  in  monasteries 
each  individual  is  under  a  solemn  vow  to  re- 
main unmarried  ;  in  this  family  there  were 
numerous  marriages,  and  the  females  were 
carefully  educated  so  as  to  be  good  wives  and 
mothers.  Fourthly,  in  monasteries  every  one 
is  bound  by  vows  never  to  relinquish  that  kind 
of  life ;  in  this  family  any  one  was  at  liberty 
to  leave  the  community  when  he  chose,  and 
many  did  so.  Lastly,  in  monasteries  every 
one  is  under  a  vow  of  subjection  to  the  Pope ; 
in  this  family  they  were  all  good  Protestants, 
and  abhorred  the  corruptions  of  popery. 

Mr.  Ferrar  was  so  far  from  being  inclined 
to  the  Romish  religion,  that  he  expressed  his 
detestation  of  the  Mass.  He  said  he  had  been 
much  in  popish  countries,  and  that  God's 
honour  and  worship  were  wounded  by  their 
practices ;  that  they  adored  what  they  could 
not  believe  to  be  the  body  and  blood  of  Christ. 
He  once  said  that  such  a  sacrifice  profaned 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR.  97 

the  very  place  where  it  was  celebrated.  One 
of  the  company  replied,  "  Why,  sir,  if  Mass 
should  be  celebrated  in  your  house,  without 
your  leave  or  knowledge,  what  would  you 
do  ?" — "  I  will  tell  you  a  story,"  said  he. 
*'  A  peer  of  France  who  had  long  been  in  the 
secret  service  of  the  Spanish  court,  being  dis- 
covered, fled  into  Spain.  As  soon  as  he  ar- 
rived, the  King  sent  his  secretary  to  a  certain 
duke  and  grandee  of  Spain,  entreating  him  to 
lend  a  palace  of  his,  as  the  hiding-place  of  this 
fugitive.  '  Tell  the  King,'  said  the  nobleman, 
*  my  house  shall  ever  be  at  his  majesty's  ser- 
vice,' and  when  the  secretary  was  about  to 
depart — 'nay,'  said  he,  'stay  and  hear  me 
out ;  as  soon  as  ever  the  house  is  mine  again, 
to  do  what  I  will  in  it,  I  will  purge  it  with 
such  a  vengeance  that  all  the  world  shall  ring 
of  it;  for  I  will  burn  it  down  to  the  very 
ground,  rather  than  that  it  shall  be  said  that  I 
harboured  a  traitor  under  my  roof.'  " — "  But," 
replied  the  friend,  "  do  you  account  the  Mass 
so  great  a  traitor  that  you  would  burn  down 
the  house  if  it  had  been  said  there  ?" — "  I  say 
not  so,"  answered  Mr.  Ferrar,  "but  I  tell 
I 


98 


THE  LIFE  OF 


you,  since  you  put  me  to  it,  I  -would  pull 
down  that  room,  though  I  built  another." 

Mr.  Ferrar's  zeal  against  error  is  laudable, 
though  this  particular  manner  of  expressing  it 
would  have  been  extravagant  and  unwise.  It 
serves  to  show,  however,  how  little  he  de- 
served to  be  suspected  of  popery.  It  was  his 
fault  that  he  attributed  too  much  sanctity  to 
places  and  forms.  His  devotion  might  have 
been  just  as  great,  if  he  had  laid  smaller 
stress  upon  outward  observances. 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR. 


99 


CHAPTER  X. 
Last  Illness  and  happy  Death. 

We  are  now  approaching  the  closing  scenes 
of  Mr.  Ferrar's  life.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that 
our  materials  furnish  us  with  few  dates,  so 
that  we  cannot  state  his  exact  age.  It  is  said, 
however,  to  have  been  in  November,  1639, 
that  he  began  to  feel  some  weakness  and 
faintness,  though  without  pain.  He  went  to 
church  in  the  morning,  and  officiated  as  usual. 
He  afterwards  sent  for  his  friend,  the  minis- 
ter of  Great- Gidcling,  and  asked  him  to  come 
every  day,  and  read  prayers  for  him.  "My 
first  care,"  said  he,  "  is  that  the  service  of  my 
God  be  not  one  day  neglected  by  those  who 
can  go  to  church.  I  know  that  I  shall  not  be 
able  to  perform  my  part  there  any  more." 

The  family  were  alarmed,  and  betrayed 
their  anxiety  and  fear  by  thejr  countenances. 
He  urged  on  them  the  duty  of  patience  and 
resignation.  They  asked  him  why  it  w^as 
that  he  seemed  so  certain  his  end  was  draw^ 


100 


THE  LIFE  OF 


ing  near?  "I  will  tell  you  one  reason,"  he 
replied ;  "  in  all  former  sicknesses,  I  have 
always  had  a  strong  desire  to  recover,  and 
have  been  earnest  in  prayer  that  God  would 
spare  me.  He  hath  spared  me,  at  times 
when  skilful  physicians  thought  there  was  no 
hope.  And  I  may  further  say,  to  the  glory 
of  his  great  name,  I  never  earnestly  set  my- 
self to  beg  any  thing  of  God,  but  he  fulfilled 
the  petition  of  his  most  unworthy  servant. 
But,  for  some  time  past,  I  have  no  inclina- 
tion to  beg  longer  life  of  God ;  nay,  I  rather 
desire  to  be  dissolved,  and  to  be  with  Christ." 

This  general  sinking  of  nature  grew  upon 
him,  but  the  powers  of  his  soul  were  as  active 
and  lively  as  they  had  ever  been  when  in  per- 
fect health.  Upon  the  Lord's-day  morning 
he  received,  with  great  desire  and  devotion, 
the  holy  communion,  according  to  the  rites  of 
the  Church  of  England.  In  this  ordinance, 
he  made  a  solemn  and  touching  confession  of 
his  faith  and  trust  in  the  blessed  Redeemer, 
renouncing  all  pretence  of  meriting  any  thing. 
He  declared  that  when  men  had  done  all, 
they  must  truly  acknowledge  themselves  to  be 
most  unprofitable.    The  minister  who  ofii- 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR.  101 

ciated  said  that  he  had  never  heard  so  excel- 
lent a  discourse,  and  that  he  thought  he  should 
never  hear  the  like  expressions  again. 

He  spent  day  and  night  in  exhorting  the 
family.  He  told  them  that  he  was  going  to 
God,  to  give  an  account  of  what  he  had  taught 
them,  assuring  them  that  it  was  according  to 
His  holy  word.  He  entreated  them  to  rely 
upon  God,  and  to  serve  Him  with  sincerity. 
He  warned  them  against  popery,  which  he 
said  was  mere  novelty,  and  recommended  to 
them  what  he  called  "  the  good  old  way." 
When  the  young  people  approached  him,  he 
said  they  were  suns  in  the  high  noon  of  their 
Christian  course,  who  had  gone  through  much 
of  the  heaven  already  ;  but  that  there  was 
much  of  it  yet  before  them,  which  their  souls 
must  labour  to  complete.  Then  he  addressed 
himself  in  familiar  language  to  the  little  chil- 
dren, and  strove  to  make  deep  impressions  on 
their  tender  souls,  of  the  love  and  fear  and 
service  of  God  ;  reminding  them  to  keep  their 
Psalms  and  Gospels  in  their  hearts,  and  set- 
ting before  them  the  blessings  which  God 
would  give  them.  He  then  fervently  called 
upon  God  to  keep  them  in  his  holy  protection. 
i2 


102 


THE  LIFE  OF 


About  three  days  before  his  death,  as  he 
lay  in  his  sick-bed,  about  eight  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  he  sent  for  his  brother  John,  and 
other  relations.  "  Brother,"  said  he,  "  I 
would  have  you  go  to  the  church,  and  at  the 
west  end,  at  the  door  where  we  go  into  the 
church,  I  would  have  you  measure  from  the 
stairs  that  you  tread  upon,  seven  feet  to  the 
westward,  and  at  the  end  of  that  seven  feet, 
there  let  my  grave  be  made."  His  brother 
looked  upon  him  with  the  deepest  sorrow, 
with  eyes  bathed  in  tears.  "  Brother,"  added 
he,  "  that  first  place  of  the  length  of  seven 
feet,  I  leave  for  your  own  burying-place.  You 
are  my  elder  brother ;  God,  I  hope,  will  let  you 
there  take  up  your  resting-place,  till  we  all 
rise  again  in  joy." 

There  was  another  communication  which 
he  added  :  "  When  you  have  measured  out 
the  place  for  my  grave,  then  go  and  take  out 
of  my  study  those  three  great  hampers  full  of 
books,  which  have  there  been  locked  up  for 
many  years.  Carry  the  hampers  to  the  place 
of  my  grave,  and  see  that  you  burn  them  all 
upon  that  spot.  Go,  let  it  be  done,  let  it  be 
done  ;  and  then  come  again  all  of  you  tome." 


NICHOLAS   FERRAR.  103 

There  were  several  hundreds  of  these  books 
in  various  languages,  which  had  been  locked 
up  ever  since  he  came  to  Little-Gidding  ;  so 
that  no  one  might  use  them.  He  had  pro- 
cured them,  in  different  places,  at  great  ex- 
pense* There  were  tragedies,  comedies,  he- 
roical  poems,  novels,  romances,  love-songs, 
and  the  like.  His  family  obeyed  him,  and 
the  fire  flamed  up  so  high  from  the  hill  on 
which  the  church  and  house  stood,  that  many 
from  the  towns  adjacent,  and  men  who  were 
at  their  labour  in  the  fields,  came  running  to 
-the  place,  supposing  the  mansion  to  be  on 
fire.  When  they  saw  what  was  doing,  they 
went  away,  and  reported  that  abundance  of 
books  were  burning,  and  that  Mr.  Ferrar  was 
dying. 

When  this  circumstance  came  to  be  spread 
abroad,  idle  people  circulated  a  story  that  he 
could  not  die  until  he  had  burned  his  conju- 
ring books.  This  report  went  as  far  as  to 
some  of  his  old  friends  in  America.  The 
books  were  such  as  had,  indeed,  bewitched 
him  in  his  younger  days.  He  knew  no  other 
way  of  bearing  so  strong  a  testimony  against 
them.    And  he  had  in  his  mind  those  early 


104 


THE  LIFE  or 


converts  at  Ephesus,  who  had  used  curious 
arts,  and  who  brought  their  books  and  burned 
them  before  all  men.  Thus  it  was  that  Sir 
Philip  Sidney  repented  of  his  Arcadia,  and 
gave  orders  on  liis  death-bed  that  it  should  be 
suppressed,  on  account  of  the  temptations 
which  it  presents  to  break  the  seventh  com- 
mandment. 

When  his  brother  returned  to  his  bedside, 
assuring  him  that  they  had  done  what  he  de- 
sired, he  raised  himself,  sat  up  in  the  bed,  and 
gave  God  hearty  thanks. 

Many  ministers  of  the  gospel  came  to  see 
the  dying  man.  He  generally  asked  them 
first  to  join  with  him  in  prayer,  and  then  to 
favour  him  with  such  discourse  as  was  fit  for 
dying  men.  One  of  them  so  far  mistook  his 
duty  as  to  begin  thus  :  "  Sir,  what  joy  may 
you  now  have  of  the  many  almsdeeds  you 
have  done — "  and  he  was  going  on  to  enu- 
merate them.  "  What  speak  you  of  such 
things  ?"  cried  Mr.  Ferrar;  "  it  had  been  but 
a  suitable  return  for  me  to  have  given  all  I 
had,  and  not  to  have  scattered  a  few  crumbs 
of  alms  here  and  there.    God  forgive  me,  I 


NICHOLAS   FERRAR.  105 

most  humbly  beseech  Him,  my  too  much  car- 
nal love  to  my  friends  in  this  respect !" 

At  another  time,  a  friend  said  to  him : 
**  Whether  that  sickness  be  for  a  trial  of  your 
patience,  or  for  your  sins,  ov  for  our  punish- 
menV — at  the  addition  of  that  word  he  was 
much  displeased,  beseeching  him  to  speak  so 
no  more,  for  he  was  a  most  miserable  sinner. 

Once,  during  his  sickness,  he  overheard  his 
brother  bemoaning  his  own  loss  and  that  of 
the  family,  if  God  should  thus  bereave  them, 
and  concluding  thus  :  "  Alas  !  what  shall  be- 
come of  us  poor  sheep,  if  the  shepherd  be 
\aken  away !"  His  deep  humility  was  so 
much  wounded  at  finding  them  reposing  so 
much  trust  in  himself,  that  he  called  his  bro- 
ther to  the  bedside,  and  said,  with  great 
warmth,  "  0,  my  brother,  what  mean  you  to 
use  that  undue  expression  !  Go,  I  pray  you, 
to  the  church,  and  fast  this  day,  and  beg  of 
God  to  forgive  you." 

At  the  return  of  another  Lord's-day  he 
found  himself  more  and  more  declining. 
Heartily  wishing  to  be  released,  he  prayed : 
*'  Why  stay  I  here.  Lord,  any  longer,  since 
I  can  do  little  now  but  take  my  ease  and 


106 


THE  LIFE  OF 


sleep  ?  Lord,  in  thy  good  time,  receive  my 
soul!"  Among  other  passages  from  the 
Psalms,  he  repeated  this  with  almost  every 
breath  :  Haste,  thee,  O  God,  to  deliver  me, 
make  haste  to  help  me,  0  God. 

It  was  the  first  Lord's-day  of  the  month, 
the  regular  day  for  their  communion.  He 
therefore  entreated  the  minister,  that  after 
they  had  celebrated  it  at  the  church,  he  would 
return  and  administer  to  him  ;  saying  that  the 
heavenly  table  was  now  his  only  support,  as 
he  had  done  with  the  earthly.  After  receiv- 
ing, he  offered  up  his  most  humble  thanks  for 
that  most  inestimable  benefit.  He  then  re- 
turned to  the  work  in  which  he  resolved  to 
live  and  die,  namely,  the  instruction  of  his 
family  in  the  ways  of  piety.  His  last  dis- 
courses were  directed  chiefly  to  his  two  un- 
married nieces,  whom  he  exhorted  to  be  stead- 
fast, and  to  commit  themselves  to  the  guid^ 
ance  of  their  Lord  and  Master,  Jesus  Christ. 

After  midnight,  having  lain  still  a  good 
while,  he  spoke  a  little,  and  observing  that  his 
attendants  did  not  hear  him,  he  said  with  a 
loud  voice  :  "  What,  doth  my  speech  fail ! 
0,  sweet  Jesus,  let  it  not  fail  me  to  the  last, 


NICHOLAS  FERRAR.  107 

I  beseech  thee  !"  He  was  asked  if  the  mi- 
nisters should  be  called  ;  for,  supposing  him 
asleep,  they  had  gone  out  of  his  chamber. 
"  Entreat  them,"  said  he,  "  to  come  and  pray 
together."  When  they  entered,  he  desired 
them  to  offer  the  prayer  for  a  dying  man. 
After  this,  they  inquired  how  he  was  ?  He 
replied,  "  Pretty  well,  I  thank  my  God  and 
you  ;  and  I  shall  be  better."  He  then  lay- 
still  about  half  an  hour,  and  seemed  to  those 
who  surrounded  his  bed  to  be  in  a  fine  slum- 
ber, but  suddenly  threw  his  arms  out  of  the 
bed  with  great  strength,  and  with  a  strong  and 
cheerful  voice  exclaimed,  "  0  what  a  blessed 
change  is  here  !  what  a  change  is  here  !  O 
what  do  I  see — what  do  I  see  !  O  let  us 
come  and  sing,  and  praise  the  Lord,  and  mag- 
nify his  holy  name  together.  I  have  been  at 
a  great  feast,  0  magnify  the  Lord  with  me." 
One  of  his  nieces  said,  "At  a  feast,  dear  fa- 
ther ?"—"  Yea,"  replied  he,  "at  the  Great 
King's  feast ;"  and  he  said  this  with  the  voice 
and  manner  of  perfect  health.  While  all  pre- 
sent were  amazed,  and  unwilling  to  interrupt 
him,  he  lay  down  quietly,  and  putting  his 
hands  into  the  bed,  stretched  them  out,  and 


108  THE  LIFE  OF  FEKRAR. 

closed  his  eyes.  The  ministers  went  to 
prayer,  and  as  they  were  praying  that  God 
would  send  his  holy  angels  to  carry  his  soul  to 
heaven,  while  those  very  words  were  uttered, 
he  opened  his  lips  and  gave  one  gasp,  after 
which,  without  stirring  hand  or  foot,  he  fell 
asleep  in  Jesus.  The  clock  struck  one  just 
at  that  moment.  All  present  remembered  that 
it  was  the  hour  at  which  he  constantly  rose 
every  morning,  to  pray  to  God,  and  to  praise 
him.  At  that  very  hour  God  called  him  to  his 
heavenly  kingdom,  to  praise  him  with  an  in- 
numerable company  of  angels,  and  with  the 
spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect.  As  one  of 
the  company  said,  he  ended  the  Christian 
Sabbath  here  on  earth,  to  begin  the  everlast- 
ing one  in  heaven. 


THE  END. 


i 


